France’s national gambling regulator has ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket, escalating scrutiny of prediction market platforms in the country. The move was attributed to concerns that the service falls under illegal gambling rules and could raise market manipulation issues.
The decision came from the Autorité nationale des jeux, or ANJ, which oversees gambling activity in France. Based on the available report, French authorities view prediction websites as a form of unlawful gambling, putting Polymarket in direct conflict with the country’s regulatory framework.
The order means French users may no longer be able to reach the platform through standard internet access, as providers are being told to geoblock it. The action highlights how regulators are increasingly focusing on online markets that let users place money on event outcomes, especially when those services operate outside local licensing systems.
The case also underscores a broader debate over whether prediction markets should be treated as financial tools, entertainment products or gambling services. In France, regulators appear to be taking a strict approach, signaling limited tolerance for platforms they believe blur those lines.
