France Orders ISPs to Geoblock Polymarket Over Gambling Rules
France’s gambling regulator ordered ISPs to block Polymarket, citing unauthorized gambling and risk of manipulation.Summary
France’s Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ) has ordered ISPs to block access to Polymarket, arguing the platform operates as unlicensed gambling. The regulator cited the site’s “addictive features” and the absence of “protective mechanisms” found in legal gambling markets, as well as concerns that certain event contracts could be manipulated—an allegation that weather‑related bets may have been rigged. A cybercrime unit has opened an investigation into identity‑verification gaps, and the decision follows earlier French moves to block the site. Similar disputes are unfolding in the United States, where state and federal regulators are challenging prediction markets as unlicensed betting platforms. The ban signals a broader trend of countries using ISP‑level geoblocking to enforce gambling laws, raising questions about how platforms will adapt compliance and whether future enforcement will shift toward formal legal action.
(Source：Crypto Breaking News)