France's National Gambling Authority ordered internet service providers to block access to the Polymarket prediction-market website nationwide on July 16, 2026 [1].
This move signals a tightening of regulatory control over decentralized betting platforms that operate outside traditional financial frameworks. By targeting the infrastructure level, French authorities are attempting to curb the influence of prediction markets that bypass local gambling laws.
The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) issued the instruction to block the site on July 16, 2026 [1]. The action was reported by news outlets on July 17, 2026 [2]. The regulator said that the platform could expose users to significant gambling losses and noted that some wagers on the site could be manipulated [2].
The decision follows previous attempts by the regulator to restrict the platform's operations. According to the ANJ, earlier efforts to implement a ban on payments to the service had failed [1]. This failure prompted the more aggressive approach of requiring internet service providers to prevent users from accessing the domain entirely.
Prediction markets like Polymarket allow users to bet on the outcome of real-world events, ranging from political elections to scientific breakthroughs. While proponents argue these markets provide more accurate forecasts than traditional polling, regulators often view them as unregulated gambling. The ANJ's intervention focuses on the potential for financial harm to citizens, and the integrity of the betting process [2].
The nationwide block applies to all residential and commercial internet service providers within France. The regulator did not specify if the block is temporary or a permanent ban on the platform's operations within the country [1].
“France's National Gambling Authority ordered internet service providers to block access to the Polymarket prediction-market website.”
The transition from payment bans to ISP-level blocking demonstrates the difficulty regulators face when policing decentralized, blockchain-based platforms. Because Polymarket operates globally and often utilizes cryptocurrency, traditional financial sanctions are easily bypassed. This escalation suggests that France may prioritize technical censorship over financial regulation to protect its domestic gambling laws and consumer safety.
