France mandates ISP blocks on Polymarket amid regulatory crackdown
The national gambling authority has ordered internet service providers to block access to the prediction market platform, citing circumvention of previous financial restrictions and classifying the site as an illegal gambling operation.
France’s independent gambling regulator, the Autorité Nationale Des Jeux (ANJ), has directed internet service providers to block access to the prediction market website Polymarket. This enforcement action marks a significant escalation in the country’s efforts to restrict citizen access to the platform, following a previous regulatory measure that failed to fully contain user activity.
The ANJ’s latest order follows a ban implemented in November 2024, which prohibited financial transactions from French residents to the Polymarket website. According to the regulator, this financial geoblock was circumvented by users, allowing the platform to continue expanding its user base within the country. The ANJ reported that Polymarket recorded 578,751 visits from French residents in June alone, with 205,057 of those being unique visits.
Reiterating its position that Polymarket operates as an illegal gambling site, the ANJ stated that the new ISP block is necessary to prevent further circumvention of French gambling laws. The authority emphasized that the platform lacks the required licensing to offer betting services to French citizens, distinguishing it from legally authorised operators.
In addition to the technical block, the ANJ has issued warnings regarding commercial promotion of the platform. The regulator stated that any entity caught advertising an unauthorised betting or gambling site could face fines of up to 100,000 euros, approximately $114,000. This penalty serves as a deterrent to marketers and affiliates who may seek to drive traffic to the prediction market.
The regulatory pressure on Polymarket extends beyond France’s borders, reflecting a broader global scrutiny of prediction markets. In Spain, the government has ordered blocks on both Polymarket and Kalshi while investigating potential breaches of gambling legislation. Meanwhile, in the United States, Minnesota has enacted legislation banning prediction markets from operating within the state, and other states are pursuing legal action against the platforms.
As regulators in multiple jurisdictions tighten their stance, the ANJ’s move signals a harder line on digital gambling enforcement. The combination of ISP blocks, financial transaction bans, and advertising penalties aims to isolate the platform from French users and reduce its market penetration in the region.
