Czech Republic Orders ISPs to Block Polymarket After Gambling Ban
Czech authorities blacklist Polymarket, requiring ISPs to block the site within 15 days under the Gambling Act.Summary
The Czech Ministry of Finance has added Polymarket to its list of unauthorized online gambling websites, triggering mandatory blocking by internet service providers (ISPs) within 15 days of publication. This move follows a broader European crackdown on prediction markets that regulators argue operate without proper licensing. The decision aligns with guidance from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), which warns that labeling contracts as “event contracts” does not exempt them from financial regulation if they meet the definition of a financial instrument. Similar restrictions have appeared in other jurisdictions, including Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, and the United States, where state regulators have challenged the legality of prediction‑market contracts. The Czech action signals that ISPs and platforms must evaluate contract structures and compliance risks, and users may experience uneven access depending on local regulatory classifications.
(Source：Crypto Breaking News)