France has directed internet service providers to block access to the prediction market platform Polymarket after the country’s gambling regulator concluded that the website promotes an unauthorized gambling offering and continues to reach users despite earlier restrictions.
The order, issued by the president of the French National Gaming Authority (ANJ) on July 16, follows a review that began in late 2024. According to the regulator, the platform’s operator, ADVENTURE ONE QSS INC., introduced geoblocking after receiving a formal notice, but French users were still able to access its services in practice.
Regulator Raises Concerns Over Legality And Integrity
The ANJ said it first identified Polymarket’s activities in November 2024 and warned that the services available through the company’s websites could amount to unauthorized online gambling under French law.
In February 2026, the regulator reiterated that prediction market websites are not permitted in France and should be treated as illegal gambling platforms. It also warned that users face risks because these services operate outside the country’s regulatory framework, leaving areas such as responsible gambling and market oversight without official supervision.
Authorities highlighted integrity concerns linked to betting markets available on the platform. One example involved weather-related wagers, where weather sensors were allegedly manipulated to influence betting outcomes. The incident prompted the Paris prosecutor’s cybercrime unit to open an investigation on May 4, 2026, assigning the case to the French Anti-Cybercrime Office (OFAC).
The regulator also said the platform available to users in France and elsewhere in Europe lacked a Know Your Customer (KYC) system to verify participants and protect market integrity.
Website Traffic Leads To Blocking Action
Despite earlier efforts to restrict access from France, Polymarket continued attracting a substantial audience. The ANJ reported 578,751 visits and 205,057 unique visitors during June alone.
According to the regulator, the site’s homepage displays live odds for events available for betting, contributing to the promotion of services that are not authorized in France. French law treats advertising for unauthorized gambling websites as a criminal offence, with fines of up to €100,000. The same penalty also applies to publishing odds or payouts that promote unauthorized online gambling platforms.
The ANJ said it therefore exercised its administrative power to block the website, a measure it has used against other illegal operators since receiving that authority. The regulator blocked 1,290 URLs during 2025.
The decision also reflects wider scrutiny of prediction markets by regulators. Authorities said the hybrid nature of these platforms has produced different regulatory responses around the world, while several European countries have already introduced restrictions or blocking measures.
In addition to France, restrictions or blocking actions have been reported in Germany, Belgium, Romania, Switzerland, Poland, the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine and the Czech Republic.
The latest order requires French internet service providers to prevent access to Polymarket, removing the platform’s availability through domestic networks while authorities continue examining the wider regulatory challenges linked to prediction markets.
Source:
“Promotion of an illegal gambling offer: Polymarket website blocked”, anj.fr, Jul 17, 2026
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