France Orders Block on Polymarket Ahead of World Cup Match

France has officially turned up the heat on the prediction market site Polymarket. The National Gambling Authority, or ANJ, has directed local internet service providers to block access to the platform. Officials claim the site is hosting illegal betting operations and poses significant risks to consumers.

The timing is notable as France prepares for a FIFA World Cup third place match against England. Despite the regulator flagging concerns about potential market manipulation and illegal activity, interest in the match remains high. Current odds on the site still favor a French victory with a 67 percent implied probability.

This move adds France to a growing group of jurisdictions putting pressure on prediction markets. Similar to recent legal challenges in the United States and threats of fines in the Netherlands, the French authorities are taking a firm stance against the platform. While the company argues its services provide price discovery, regulators clearly see these prediction markets as gambling products that require strict oversight.

Looking ahead, the industry is watching to see how the company responds to this latest international crackdown. While the business is actively pursuing expansion in markets like Japan, this restriction shows that major regulators are losing patience. Whether the platform tries to adjust its model for the French market or exits the region remains to be seen.