France is drawing a line in the sand for crypto-gambling.
The National Gaming Authority, known locally as ANJ, has ordered ISPs to cut off access to Polymarket. This isn’t a suggestion. It’s a hard block.
The reason? Illegal gambling promotion.
The regulator didn’t pull the plug overnight. They tracked the platform’s activity for months. Since November 2024, they watched Polymarket target French users with weather bets and other games of chance. These are unauthorized under French law.
In February, the ANJ warned the public. They said prediction markets are risky. They cited addiction. They mentioned market manipulation.
Then came the formal notice.
Polymarket’s US operator, ADVENTURE ONE QSS INC., tried to comply. They geoblocked financial transactions for French accounts. But the ANJ saw through it. Users found workarounds. The restrictions were circumvented.
So, the regulator went nuclear. On July 16, the president of the ANJ issued the blocking order. It hits all Polymarket sites tied to the company.
This is about more than just banning a website. It’s part of a wider legal pressure. In May, the Paris prosecutor’s cybercrime unit opened an investigation. They look into claims that weather-related bets were manipulated via compromised sensors.
Polymarket also lacks a proper “Know Your Customer” (KYC) system for users in France and the EU. No ID checks. No accountability.
The European Contagion
France isn’t acting alone. They are part of a growing coalition of European nations shutting down these platforms.
Look at the list:
- Belgium
- Germany
- Italy
- The Netherlands
- Spain
- Switzerland
These countries have all restricted or blocked prediction markets for similar reasons. Regulatory pressure is mounting globally.
The ANJ is aggressive about enforcement. They blocked 1,290 individual URLs in 2025 using their administrative powers. They aren’t just naming names. They are taking down the digital doorways.
Why This Matters for Users
You might ask why a prediction market matters. It’s not a casino. It’s about betting on outcomes. Real world events. Politics. Weather.
But the ANJ argues it’s gambling. Period.
Without KYC checks, you remain anonymous. That makes fraud easier. That makes tracking winners impossible. That makes regulation a nightmare.
Polymarket is facing more than just France. A recent Wall Street Journal investigation, highlighted by Mashable, revealed the platform paid influencers to post fabricated betting wins on TikTok. They bought the illusion of success.
Simultaneously, reports show Polymarket is trying to block VPN access. They know people are finding ways around US legal pressure too. They are fighting a war on multiple fronts.
Prediction markets are not authorized under French law. Using such platforms carries significant risks, including addiction and manipulation.
The end isn’t clear for Polymarket. Bans don’t fix the demand for anonymous betting. They just drive it deeper into the dark web.
France has made its stance known. The blocks are up. The investigation is ongoing. The rest of Europe is watching.
Whether Polymarket survives the crackdown or retreats into niche corners of the internet remains to be seen. What’s certain is that the age of unregulated prediction markets in Europe is getting harder to sustain.
You can keep trying to access it via proxy. But the doors are closing.
