Prediction market Polymarket banned in France

ISPs told to block access to popular prediction market

Life

The French gambling authority (ANJ) has ordered Internet service providers to block access to the prediction platform Polymarket. According to the regulator, the platform offers illegal games of chance and does not comply with French regulations.

Polymarket is a platform on which users can speculate with cryptocurrency on the outcome of a wide range of events, such as elections, sporting fixtures, economic developments or even the weather. Payouts are based on the collective expectation of the participants. It came to prominence during the 2024 US presidential election when it was regularly cited by Elon Musk on X as an accurate source of information on voter intent. Its successful prediction of a Trump win brought Polymarket and competitors like Kalshi into the mainstream.

Although financial transactions between French users and Polymarket had already been banned since 2024, the website itself remained accessible. According to the ANJ, that accessibility amounted to advertising for an illegal game of chance. For that reason, French ISPs must now block the site completely.

The French authorities are concerned about the risk of gambling addiction and large financial losses, possible manipulation of certain prediction markets and the lack of sufficient consumer protection and identity checks.

France is not alone. Other countries are also tightening their supervision of prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi. Spain and the Netherlands previously took similar measures, while new regulations are also being prepared in the United States.

Emerce

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