France Orders ISPs to Block Polymarket Over Illegal Gambling Concerns

France’s National Gambling Authority has directed internet service providers across the country to block access to prediction market platform Polymarket, classifying its operations as illegal gambling. According to the regulator, Polymarket has never been authorized to operate in France, and advertising unlicensed gambling platforms carries potential fines of up to 114,000 euros under French law.

Concerns Extend to Market Manipulation

Beyond licensing issues, French authorities raised concerns about potential manipulation of certain event outcomes on the platform, pointing specifically to weather-related contracts where sensors may have been compromised. The Paris Public Prosecutor’s cybercrime unit opened an investigation into the matter earlier this year and found the platform lacked proper identity verification procedures for users.

France Joins Growing List of Countries Blocking Access

Polymarket has already been geoblocked in numerous countries, including Singapore, Poland, Portugal, Hungary, Ukraine, Brazil and Indonesia, with the platform confirming it is currently restricted in dozens of regions worldwide. French regulators first signaled intentions to block the platform back in late 2024, citing noncompliance with national gambling regulations.

Wider Regulatory Pressure Building in the US

Prediction markets have also faced increasing scrutiny in the United States, where several states have filed lawsuits against platforms including Polymarket and a competitor, alleging they operate as unlicensed sports betting services. Separately, federal regulators have pushed back against certain states, arguing that authority over federally regulated event contracts falls under their exclusive jurisdiction rather than individual state oversight.