The Czech Finance Ministry has added Polymarket to its blacklist of unauthorized online gambling websites. Internet service providers in the country now have 15 days to block access to the prediction market platform.
Why the blacklist was issued
Polymarket allows users to bet on the outcomes of real-world events, from elections to sports. Czech regulators classify such activity as gambling under local law. The ministry's blacklist targets sites that operate without a license. Polymarket does not hold a Czech gambling license, so it landed on the list.
What happens next for users
Once ISPs enforce the block, Czech residents will no longer be able to reach Polymarket directly. The platform remains accessible in other jurisdictions. Some users may turn to VPNs or alternative services, though the ministry's order does not address workarounds. The 15-day compliance window started when the blacklist was published.
Polymarket's regulatory track record
This is not the first time Polymarket has faced government scrutiny. The platform settled with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission in 2022 over allegations of offering off-exchange event-based binary options. The company paid a $1.4 million penalty and agreed to stop serving U.S. customers. The Czech action is a separate, national-level move.
The Czech Finance Ministry maintains a regularly updated blacklist of gambling sites. Other platforms have been added before, and ISPs have complied with previous blocking orders. The deadline for Polymarket's block is firm, but enforcement details—such as how ISPs will implement the restriction—have not been publicly specified.
