France Orders ISPs to Block Access to Polymarket

France is taking a firm stance against decentralized prediction markets. The Autorité Nationale des Jeux has ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket for all users within the country. While the platform describes itself as a financial trading venue, the French regulator disagrees and has officially classified the site as an unauthorized gambling operation.

Regulators cited significant integrity concerns as a major reason for the decision. A specific complaint from the national weather service regarding tampered sensor data on a weather bet led to a formal investigation by the Paris prosecutor. Officials stated that previous attempts to restrict financial transactions from French accounts were ineffective, as many users simply bypassed the measures using virtual private networks.

This move adds France to a growing list of more than thirty jurisdictions that have moved to restrict the platform. With other countries like Spain and Belgium already enforcing similar blocks, the outlook for prediction markets in Europe remains uncertain. Investors should monitor how these regional crackdowns affect site traffic and whether other nations follow the French lead.