TLDR Polymarket will challenge France’s nationwide website block through the French legal system. France’s ANJ ordered internet providers to block the entire Polymarket website. The platform
France’s decision to block the entire Polymarket website is facing a legal challenge after the prediction market platform said it would contest the order in court. The company argues that France’s action prevents people from viewing market information even though trading from the country has already been disabled since November 2024. The dispute centers on whether Polymarket should be treated as a gambling platform or a financial market.
France’s National Gambling Authority (ANJ) ordered internet service providers to block access to the entire Polymarket website. The regulator said the platform exposed users to financial losses and continued to offer unauthorized gambling services.
Polymarket responded by announcing plans to challenge the decision through the French legal system. The company said the order goes beyond trading restrictions because it also blocks users who only visit the platform to view market probabilities.
The company stated, “We were surprised at the ANJ decision to block access to our entire website because their measure targets people going to Polymarket purely for information.” It added, “We are proud that most people come to Polymarket solely to learn the probability of future events relevant to their everyday life with no intention to trade. Prediction markets help source truth.”
The legal dispute also concerns how Polymarket’s contracts should be classified. The company describes them as blockchain-based financial instruments that users trade directly with one another.
According to Polymarket, prices are determined by market activity instead of a centralized operator. The platform also said it does not take the opposite side of customer trades or profit from the outcome of events, distinguishing its model from traditional gambling operators.
French authorities maintain that the platform remained available after trading restrictions were introduced in late 2024. The regulator also raised concerns about identity verification procedures and suspected manipulation involving weather-related markets.
France is the latest country to block access to Polymarket at the internet service provider level. Ukraine introduced a similar block in January, Argentina followed in March, and Spain blocked both Polymarket and Kalshi in May.
Several other countries, including Brazil, India, Indonesia, and Romania, have also restricted access or classified Polymarket as an unauthorized gambling platform. Ukraine currently has no legal framework that would allow the platform to operate, according to a government policy official.
The post Polymarket Fights Back as France Tightens Restrictions appeared first on Blockonomi.
