France has ordered internet service providers to block access to the crypto-based prediction market Polymarket, arguing that the platform offers illegal gambling services under French law. The move reflects growing global regulatory scrutiny of prediction markets, with authorities also raising concerns about market integrity and the potential misuse of insider information.
France's National Gambling Authority (ANJ) announced that it instructed internet service providers on July 16, 2026 to block access to Polymarket, stating that the platform operates outside the country's gambling regulations and may expose users to significant financial risks.
According to the regulator, the website will remain inaccessible until it is determined to be compliant with French gambling laws. Polymarket did not immediately comment on the decision.
The enforcement action comes amid increasing global scrutiny of prediction markets. In recent months, Spain temporarily restricted access to both Polymarket and Kalshi, while U.S. regulators proposed new rules for event contracts over concerns that some markets may lack genuine economic purpose and pose risks to the public. French authorities also highlighted concerns surrounding weather-related prediction markets, where insider information or manipulation of underlying data could undermine market fairness.
The concerns stem from an earlier investigation involving temperature-based prediction contracts linked to weather readings in France. Authorities are examining unusual temperature spikes recorded at a weather station near Paris after traders reportedly earned more than $35,000 from well-timed positions, prompting a police complaint from the country's national weather agency over the integrity of the underlying data. The latest action comes despite Polymarket's continued growth, with the platform's annualized revenue reportedly exceeding $1 billion, underscoring the rapid expansion of prediction markets even as regulatory oversight intensifies.
France's decision to block Polymarket signals that regulators are increasingly treating prediction markets as a regulatory priority rather than a niche segment of the crypto industry. As governments tighten oversight of event-based contracts, platforms operating in the sector are likely to face greater scrutiny around licensing, market integrity, and consumer protection.
