Polymarket to Legally Challenge France’s Decision to Block Its Website

Prediction market platform Polymarket says it plans to fight France’s decision to block access to its website, calling the move surprising given that the platform had already stopped allowing French users to trade more than a year earlier.

What Prompted the Block

France’s gaming regulator ordered internet providers to block Polymarket last week, ahead of the World Cup final, despite the platform having disabled trading for French users since late 2024. Polymarket said it had continued allowing French users to browse the site purely for informational purposes, such as viewing probability estimates on real world events, without enabling any wagering.

Regulator’s Reasoning

The French authority stated that the platform was promoting an unauthorized gambling service and warned that users could face significant financial losses, adding that some wagers on the platform could potentially be manipulated. Citing traffic data, the regulator noted the site still received hundreds of thousands of visits from French users in June, arguing that displaying live odds, even without active trading, amounted to advertising an illegal betting service.

Broader Pushback Against Prediction Markets

Polymarket defended its platform, saying most visitors come simply to understand the likelihood of future events rather than to gamble. The company, along with rival platform Kalshi, has faced growing scrutiny from regulators across Europe and parts of the United States, even as both platforms have achieved major valuations and growing mainstream attention. Meanwhile, other financial platforms, including major stock and crypto trading apps, are exploring prediction markets as a future source of revenue.