France’s gambling authority has ordered internet providers to block Polymarket, the world’s largest prediction market platform, escalating a regulatory dispute that could set a European precedent. The National Gambling Authority (ANJ) cited risks of heavy losses and potential manipulation in certain prediction contracts as grounds for the nationwide block. Polymarket responded on July 22, confirming it will challenge the ruling through French courts, arguing the restriction unlawfully targets informational access rather than gambling activity.
The platform stopped accepting bets from French users in late 2024 but continued displaying live market data and event probabilities. ANJ officials contend that even showing such odds promotes unauthorized betting, a stance Polymarket calls a “unilateral” overreach. The block was enforced just before the FIFA World Cup final, drawing immediate industry attention.
The move aligns with broader European scrutiny. Spain temporarily banned Polymarket and rival Kalshi in May 2025, though Kalshi was not included in France’s latest order. In the U.S., the CFTC released draft prediction market regulations in June, and a House panel has been investigating both platforms. Polymarket’s legal challenge will test whether European gambling laws can regulate information dissemination, a decision likely to shape how prediction markets operate across the continent.
