France Orders ISPs to Block Polymarket Betting Website Access

France’s gambling regulator instructed internet service providers to block access to the Polymarket betting website on July 16, 2026. The action was taken due to concerns over potential significant gambling losses and the possibility of manipulated wagers.

What Happened

France’s National Gambling Authority ordered French internet service providers on July 16, 2026, to block access to the Polymarket website, according to CNA. The regulator cited concerns that the platform could expose users to substantial gambling losses and that certain wagers offered might be subject to manipulation. The regulator further stated that Polymarket attracts a particularly large audience and promotes an illegal gambling and betting offering.

A spokesperson for the French regulator indicated that the Polymarket website will remain blocked in France for an indefinite period, as long as it is deemed noncompliant with the country’s gambling industry regulations, as reported by CNA. Polymarket officials did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment regarding this development.

Key Details

• The blocking order was issued by the president of France’s National Gambling Authority on July 16, 2026 (CNA).
• Reasons for the block include concerns about significant gambling losses for users and the potential for wager manipulation (CNA).
• The regulator described Polymarket as promoting an illegal gambling and betting offering in France (CNA).
• The website will remain blocked as long as it is considered noncompliant with French gambling rules, according to a regulator spokesperson (CNA).
• Regulators have cited instances of people placing wagers on weather conditions, with the possibility that insider information was used for these bets (CNA).
• A source familiar with the matter stated last month that Polymarket’s annualized revenue has surpassed $1 billion (Reuters, cited by CNA).

Why It Matters

This action by the French gambling regulator highlights a growing trend of tightening oversight on prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi, which have seen increased popularity. Regulatory bodies are concerned about the potential for harm to the public interest, citing that some bets lack economic purpose and may lead to substantial financial risk for participants, according to CNA. The move by France follows similar regulatory scrutiny in other jurisdictions; for instance, Spain temporarily banned Polymarket and Kalshi in May, and the top U.S. derivatives regulator released new draft regulations for the prediction markets industry in June.

The regulatory emphasis extends to the types of wagers offered, which range from sports outcomes and elections to geopolitical events. Lawmakers have advocated for stricter regulation and the prohibition of specific bets, particularly those where insider information could be leveraged, such as wagers on weather conditions, as noted by the French regulator (CNA). This signals a broader international effort to establish clearer regulatory frameworks for prediction markets.

Originally reported by CNA·Published 17 Jul 2026, 15:57