France Orders ISPs to Block Polymarket Over Gambling Concerns
In brief
- ANJ ordered ISPs to block Polymarket, citing addictive mechanics and lack of self-exclusion tools.
- Polymarket drew 578,751 visits from 205,057 French users in June despite a transaction ban since November 2024.
- Polymarket is now restricted in more than 30 jurisdictions worldwide.
Prior restrictions didn't stick
Polymarket drew 578,751 visits from 205,057 unique visitors in France in June, according to Similarweb data the regulator cited in its order. This volume persisted despite a ban on financial transactions in place since November 2024. Users could bypass the financial transaction ban using a VPN, rendering the earlier measure largely toothless.
The ANJ's stance hardened in February 2026. The regulator reclassified prediction markets as illegal gambling, citing addictive mechanics and the absence of stake limits and self-exclusion tools. It also flagged Polymarket's real-time odds display as a promotional channel that amplifies the platform's reach despite lacking authorization in France.
Specific incidents fueled enforcement
Two events hardened the regulator's resolve. France's weather service, Météo-France, filed a complaint over a tampered temperature sensor tied to weather-based bets on Polymarket. The incident prompted the Paris prosecutor's cybercrime unit to open an investigation on May 4.
The ANJ also pointed to a French trader known as "Fredi9999," who moved U.S. election odds with multimillion-dollar positions in 2024. These cases illustrated both market manipulation risk and the platform's appeal to French users despite regulatory barriers.
Violations can trigger fines up to 100,000 euros ($114,380). Last year, France blocked 1,290 gambling-related URLs as part of its broader enforcement strategy.
A global pattern
France isn't alone. Polymarket is now restricted in more than 30 jurisdictions. Switzerland blocked the site in November 2024, followed by Poland, Singapore and Belgium in early 2025. Portugal moved in January 2026, and Spain issued a temporary block in May pending a probe. Brazil, Argentina, India and Indonesia have also restricted Polymarket, as have Italy, Germany, Romania, Hungary and Ukraine.
"The site's homepage, which dynamically displays real-time odds for various events open to betting, thus serves as a major channel for disseminating and promoting Polymarket's offerings, even though the site's operations are not authorized in France" — Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ)
