ANJ Forwards Directive to ISPs to Block Polymarket Amid Gambling Law Violations
France’s gambling authority, ANJ, has taken a significant step by instructing internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to the prediction platform Polymarket. The regulator cites concerns over unlicensed gambling activities and potential risks to public safety as the main reasons behind this decision.
This action comes after a thorough two-year investigation into the services operated by Adventure One, Polymarket’s parent company, which culminated in Thursday’s directive.
How Did This Happen?
The ANJ’s president exercised the authority granted under administrative powers to mandate French ISPs to restrict access to Polymarket’s website and its various versions. The regulator argues that these services constitute unlicensed games of chance, making them illegal under French law.
Polymarket, a platform where users can bet on a wide range of events, from political outcomes to weather forecasts began attracting attention from the ANJ as early as November 2024. Despite warnings issued to the operator, Polymarket attempted to comply by introducing geoblocking measures aimed at preventing French IP addresses from engaging with the platform. However, these measures failed to fully block access or prevent users from bypassing restrictions with technological workarounds.
The regulator emphasized that Polymarket’s homepage, which displays real-time odds on various events, had become a significant promotional hub for French users. Data from the ANJ revealed that in June 2026 alone, the platform received 578,751 visits, with 205,057 unique visitors from France.
Key Concerns Raised by the ANJ
The regulator outlined several reasons for the decision to block Polymarket. First, prediction markets are considered gambling activities under French law and remain unlicensed in the country. The ANJ highlighted risks related to addiction and market manipulation, especially in the absence of clear regulatory oversight.
Second, some markets such as those linked to weather data raised suspicions of data manipulation. This prompted an investigation by the Paris public prosecutor’s cybercrime unit on May 4, 2026, which assigned the Office Anti-cybercriminalité (OFAC) to oversee the case.
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The ANJ also criticized Polymarket’s inadequate implementation of know-your-customer (KYC) procedures, which are essential for verifying user identities and ensuring trustworthiness, as required under both French and European regulations.
Furthermore, the platform’s public display of odds was viewed as promotional activity. Under French law, promoting or sharing odds for unlicensed gambling sites can lead to criminal charges, with fines reaching up to €100,000 ($114,347).
This isn’t the first time the ANJ has resorted to administrative blocking. In 2025, the regulator reported blocking 1,290 URLs associated with illegal gambling services. Recently, ANJ fined an unnamed online betting operator €500,000 for failing to properly identify and support customers showing signs of problematic gambling behavior.
A Broader European Trend
Across Europe, authorities are increasingly adopting restrictive measures against prediction markets. Countries including Germany, Belgium, Romania, Switzerland, Poland, the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, and the Czech Republic have all imposed restrictions or access bans on similar platforms.
Additionally, nine European regulators recently announced a joint initiative targeting unlicensed prediction market platforms across the continent. Their primary concern is the potential harm to consumers, particularly younger users given the platforms’ round-the-clock accessibility, often without mandatory betting limits or cooling-off periods.
Despite these restrictions, Gibraltar announced last week a new regulatory framework aimed at supporting its entry into the prediction markets sector. The government indicated that this framework would adopt an “activity-based and risk-based approach,” considering factors such as market integrity, participant protection, financial crime prevention, operational resilience, and proper governance.
