France has ordered internet service providers to block Polymarket, with the country’s National Gambling Authority framing the crypto prediction market as an illegal gambling operation. The July 16, 2026 order marks one of the most direct enforcement escalations yet against a crypto-native betting platform in Europe.
Why France moved to block Polymarket
The president of France’s National Gambling Authority (ANJ) ordered French internet service providers to block access to Polymarket on July 16, 2026, according to a notice published by the regulator. The measure targets ISPs directly rather than only the platform or its users. For related coverage, see Kentucky Sues Kalshi and Polymarket in CFTC Authority Test.
ANJ said Polymarket promotes an illegal gambling and betting offering in France. The platform lets users wager crypto on the outcome of real-world events, settling positions on the Polygon network, which places it squarely in the category of unlicensed prediction markets French authorities have moved against. For related coverage, see Bitmine Needs 507,000 More ETH to Reach 5% Ether Supply Goal.
Reuters reported that France cited risks of significant gambling losses and the potential manipulation of some wagers when ordering the block, in its July 17 summary. The step reflects how regulators can restrict access to crypto-linked platforms without shutting down the operator itself. For related coverage, see Kaspersky Uncovers Malware Targeting Crypto Investors Through Fake GitHub Apps.
The legal and regulatory case behind the crackdown
France does not treat prediction markets as a licensed product. ANJ restated on February 24, 2026 that prediction-market platforms are not authorized in the country and are considered illegal gambling sites, in an earlier policy statement. For related coverage, see More Than $38 Billion Leaves Total DeFi TVL Since Jan. 1.
The distinction matters. Licensed gambling operators in France work within a supervised framework covering odds, consumer protection, and integrity checks, while event contracts on platforms like Polymarket sit outside that system. Regulators may classify such contracts as gambling-like activity when they resemble unlicensed wagering rather than regulated financial derivatives.
ANJ’s own audience data underpins the enforcement case. Polymarket recorded 578,751 visits from France in June 2026, the regulator said.
The regulator also counted 205,057 unique visitors from France over the same month, an audience it argues justifies administrative action.
Integrity concerns feature heavily in the regulator’s reasoning. ANJ said a Paris cybercrime investigation was opened on May 4, 2026 over weather bets, noting that the underlying weather sensors could have been hacked. According to unconfirmed reports cited by the regulator, some weather-related wagers may have been distorted as a result, though the matter remains under investigation rather than judicially established.
What the Polymarket block could mean for crypto users and platforms
ISP-level blocking can sharply reduce local access even without a full platform shutdown. ANJ had said its 2024 geoblocking arrangement was being bypassed in practice, and its enforcement footprint is expanding, with 1,290 URLs blocked in 2025 as a benchmark of activity.
The move sends a signal to other crypto prediction and derivatives platforms operating in the region. France is not alone in tightening access: Binance’s French users were shifted to withdrawals-only access after the MiCA deadline, underscoring how European enforcement is reaching crypto-native services one platform at a time.
Prediction markets are drawing legal pressure on both sides of the Atlantic. In the United States, Kentucky has sued Kalshi and Polymarket in a test of CFTC authority, a parallel that shows regulators are still probing where event contracts fit within existing law.
Europe’s approach remains piecemeal. “Europe’s regulatory response has so far been a series of national enforcement actions with no framework to show for it,” said Ivan Nevzorov in an industry legal tracker.
Market sentiment offers little cushion for the sector. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index sat at 28, in “Fear” territory, while POL, the token underpinning the network Polymarket settles on, traded at $0.0807, down 1.7% over 24 hours, according to market data.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
