France Blocks Polymarket Access, Citing Illegal Gambling Concerns

France’s Action Against Polymarket

The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), France’s gambling regulator, has ordered internet service providers in the country to block access to Polymarket. This decision, enacted on July 16, 2026, reclassifies the prediction market as an illegal gambling site rather than a legitimate financial trading platform.

Concerns Over User Engagement

The ANJ’s ruling is based on concerns surrounding the addictive mechanics of Polymarket, as well as the lack of self-exclusion tools that would help mitigate potential gambling-related issues. The regulator pointed out that earlier measures to deter French users from accessing the platform have proven ineffective, with an estimated 578,751 visits recorded from 205,057 unique French users in June, despite a prohibition on financial transactions in place since November 2024. Users had been able to circumvent these restrictions using VPNs.

Real-Time Odds Promote Unauthorized Gambling

The ANJ highlighted that Polymarket’s homepage, which displays live markets and real-time odds, effectively promotes its offerings in a manner that contradicts its unlicensed status in France. This ongoing access encouraged users to engage with unauthorized gambling activities.

Investigations and Regulatory Measures

Moreover, the ANJ cited complaints, including one from France’s weather service, Météo-France, regarding a tampered temperature sensor linked to weather-based bets. This issue has prompted an investigation by the Paris prosecutor’s cybercrime unit, initiated on May 4.

Wider International Context

France’s aggressive stance toward Polymarket reflects a broader international trend, as the platform faces restrictions in over 30 jurisdictions worldwide. Other countries like Switzerland, Poland, Singapore, Belgium, Portugal, and Spain have enacted similar blocks against the site in recent years. In 2026 alone, the ANJ has blocked 1,290 URLs related to gambling as part of its regulatory efforts.