France Orders ISPs to Block Polymarket Over Gambling Concerns
France's gambling regulator, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux, has ordered internet service providers to block Polymarket, reclassifying it as an illegal gambling site. The action follows concerns about addictive mechanics and a notable number of French users circumventing financial restrictions, according to CoinDesk.
On July 16, 2026, France's gambling regulator, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), instructed internet service providers to block access to Polymarket, a platform typically viewed as a prediction market. The regulator classified Polymarket as an illegal gambling site rather than as a financial trading platform. According to Similarweb data cited by the ANJ, Polymarket attracted 578,751 visits from 205,057 unique users in France in June, despite a ban on financial transactions since November 2024.
The ANJ stated that previous measures to deter French users had failed, allowing many to access the platform using a virtual private network (VPN). As per the ANJ's findings, the site's homepage, which displays real-time odds for various events, contributes to the promotion of unauthorized gambling services in France. "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," the ANJ noted.
This decision aligns with France's escalating scrutiny of online gambling. The country has blocked over 1,290 gambling-related URLs in the past year and has joined a growing list of more than 30 countries restricting Polymarket's operations, including Switzerland, Poland, and Singapore. The actions stem from complaints regarding specific bets offered on Polymarket, such as those related to weather predictions, which led to an investigation by the Paris prosecutor's cybercrime unit.
Furthermore, French trader "Fredi9999" was highlighted in the ANJ's report for significantly influencing U.S. election betting odds with substantial financial positions in 2024. The increased regulation in France reflects a broader trend of tightening control over prediction markets that are perceived as operating under gambling regulations.
As France continues to enforce these restrictions, it raises questions about the future operations of similar platforms within the region. Industry participants and users will need to monitor any developments in regulatory stances and legal interpretations surrounding prediction markets.
Summary based on original reporting by Francisco Rodrigues at CoinDesk, originally published Jul 18, 2026. SolanaWire does not republish source content.
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