France Orders ISP Block on Polymarket Amid Gambling Crackdown

The regulator’s decision, issued on July 16, targets the platform after internal monitoring revealed that French traffic continued to surge despite previous access restrictions. In June 2026 alone, the site recorded over 205,000 unique visitors from the country. Under French law, promoting unlicensed gambling carries fines of up to €100,000, a penalty that extends to individuals who publicly share payout ratios or odds.

Beyond unauthorized operations, the ANJ cited significant concerns regarding market integrity and cybersecurity. Investigations launched by the Office for Combating Cybercrime in May suggest that some event markets may have been rigged, with specific allegations that linked weather sensors were vulnerable to manipulation. Furthermore, the regulator pointed to a lack of robust identity verification systems, which it argues leaves the platform open to illegal participation from restricted jurisdictions.

This enforcement action aligns with broader European scrutiny. The Czech Republic has also mandated ISP blocks for the platform, while the European Securities and Markets Authority is currently weighing whether these event-based contracts should be reclassified as financial instruments under MiFID II. Outside the continent, Polymarket faces parallel legal pressure in the United States, where state authorities have challenged its licensing status for sports betting, further complicating the global landscape for prediction market operators.