France Orders ISPs to Block Polymarket Over Gambling Rules
The ANJ cited illegal gambling and market manipulation in its geoblock directive against the prediction market.
France's gambling regulator, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), has ordered the country's internet service providers to geoblock Polymarket, the decentralised prediction market platform, citing illegal gambling operations and market manipulation concerns, according to CoinTelegraph (July 2026).
Why It Matters
French users attempting to access Polymarket as of July 2026 will find the site unreachable through standard ISP connections, though VPNs remain a practical workaround. The ANJ's dual rationale — illegal gambling and market manipulation — signals that regulators are treating prediction markets not merely as information tools but as unregulated betting products. That framing carries weight across the EU: if France's classification holds, it could prompt coordinated action from other member-state regulators operating under shared consumer protection frameworks. For Polymarket's user base and for the broader prediction market sector, this sets a precedent that decentralised architecture does not confer immunity from national enforcement. Gambling always involves financial risk, and this action underscores that regulators will pursue platforms they believe expose consumers to unlicensed exposure.
Context
Polymarket operates on the Polygon blockchain and allows users to trade shares on real-world event outcomes. It has faced regulatory friction before: U.S. authorities fined the platform in 2022 over CFTC compliance failures, and it has operated without formal gambling licences in most European jurisdictions. France requires any operator offering wagering products to French residents to hold an ANJ licence.
What's Next
The ANJ's block takes effect through ISP-level enforcement, meaning compliance depends on each provider's implementation timeline. Polymarket has not publicly confirmed whether it will challenge the order or pursue ANJ licensing — either decision would set a significant benchmark for how decentralised prediction platforms engage with European regulators.
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