France's gambling regulator, the ANJ, has blocked access to Polymarket for users in the country. The move is part of a broader enforcement action against unlicensed prediction markets that now spans more than 33 countries.
Why the ANJ stepped in
Polymarket, a decentralized platform where users bet on outcomes of events from elections to sports, operates without a French gambling license. The ANJ has the authority to order internet service providers to block sites that offer unregulated betting. French users attempting to reach Polymarket now see a warning page from the regulator.
The ANJ has not issued a public statement detailing the exact reasons for the block, but the action follows a pattern of regulators cracking down on platforms that skirt national gambling laws. In France, only licensed operators can offer betting services, and prediction markets are treated as gambling under the country's legal framework.
A coordinated global effort
The block is not an isolated incident. Regulators in at least 33 countries have taken similar steps against unlicensed prediction markets in recent months. The coordinated push suggests a growing concern among authorities that these platforms operate outside consumer protection rules, anti-money laundering requirements, and age verification checks.
Polymarket has faced scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions. The platform allows users to trade on the probability of real-world events using cryptocurrency, which makes it difficult for regulators to enforce local laws. The company has not commented on the French block or the wider crackdown.
What French users lose
For French bettors, the block means they can no longer place wagers on Polymarket's contracts, which have included bets on election outcomes, economic indicators, and even weather events. Some users may turn to VPNs to bypass the restriction, but the ANJ has warned that circumventing the block could carry legal risks.
The platform's decentralized nature means that even with a block, the underlying smart contracts remain accessible on the blockchain. But the ANJ's action effectively cuts off the most common user interface, making it harder for casual users to participate.
Polymarket has not announced any plans to seek a license or comply with French regulations. The company's leadership has previously argued that prediction markets are a form of information aggregation, not gambling, but regulators in multiple countries have rejected that framing.
The ANJ's block is likely to remain in place unless Polymarket applies for and receives a French gambling license — a process that would require the platform to meet strict standards on fairness, player protection, and financial transparency. So far, the company has shown no indication it will do so.
