Argentina Orders Nationwide Block on Polymarket Over Gambling Concerns
Summary
Argentina has ordered a nationwide block of Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction market platform, after authorities determined it was operating without proper approval. A Buenos Aires court directed internet providers to restrict access and requested Apple and Google to remove the app from their stores. This makes Argentina the 34th country to fully restrict the platform. The action stemmed from complaints by the Buenos Aires City Lottery (LOTBA) and the Argentine Chamber of Casinos (CASCBA), alleging Polymarket functioned as an unlicensed gambling platform, allowing bets with crypto and credit cards without verification. Concerns were also raised regarding user safety, particularly the ease of creating accounts and trading without identity or age verification. A data leak incident, where Polymarket reportedly revealed inflation data before the official release, further contributed to the decision. While many countries are blocking Polymarket, the U.S. CFTC recently dropped a draft rule that aimed to ban political prediction markets.
(Source:Coinpedia)