According to reports from Reuters, Polymarket has announced its intention to challenge France's decision to block its website through the country's courts. The crypto-based prediction market platform stated it is 'disappointed by the French gaming authority's (ANJ's) sudden decision to unilaterally block our website — we intend to challenge this decision through the legal process in France.' The challenge comes five days after French regulators ordered internet providers to restrict access to the platform, with the company confirming on Wednesday, July 22 that it will proceed with legal action. The move comes amid a wave of regulatory pressure on event-based betting sites across Europe, with France sparing its rival platform Kalshi from similar restrictions. As reported by CoinDesk, Polymarket plans to challenge the decision through the French legal system, calling the order 'disproportionate because it covers users who visit the site for information rather than to trade.' The company emphasized that '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,' adding that 'Prediction markets help source truth.'
As reported by Reuters, ANJ President Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin issued the blocking order on July 16, 2026, directing French internet service providers to restrict access to Polymarket. The National Gambling Authority cited that the website 'attracted a large French audience while offering gambling and betting services that the regulator considers illegal under national law.' According to Reuters, the regulator specifically stated that 'The site, which attracts a particularly large audience, is promoting an illegal gambling and betting offering.' A spokesperson for ANJ told Reuters that the block would remain until the regulator considers Polymarket compliant with France's gambling rules. The regulator's position is essentially that Polymarket functions as an unauthorized betting site, while the company has pushed back on this framing, describing itself as an information platform rather than a gambling operation. The French regulator also highlighted concerns about insider information being used for weather-related bets, as reported by Reuters. Meanwhile, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a separate statement on July 3, stating that illegality hinges on whether an event contract qualifies as a financial instrument, with the commercial name 'event contract' being 'irrelevant' - what matters is whether such contracts concern an 'event question' listed in law under Section C(4) to (10) of MiFID II.
According to Reuters, unlike conventional sportsbooks, Polymarket allows users to trade contracts tied to outcomes in politics, economics, sports, weather and armed conflicts. A person familiar with Polymarket's finances told Reuters in June that the company's annualized revenue had exceeded $1 billion. Trading across the sector has climbed significantly, with Dune Analytics data showing that users wagered about $19.04 billion through Polymarket and rival platform Kalshi during the recently completed soccer World Cup. Industry experts emphasize that success depends on providing seamless deposits, local payment methods and fast withdrawals, with users increasingly expecting payment services to be both immediate and reliable. The ISP-level block applies to French territory, and users with VPNs have historically found ways around such restrictions, which is likely part of why over 578,000 French visits still occurred after the transaction ban was implemented in November 2024. Polymarket and Kalshi allow traders and gamblers to bet on a wide array of events, ranging from the results of sports matches to elections and even on events related to the wars in Iran and Ukraine.
Recent developments have highlighted ethical concerns around Polymarket's operations, particularly regarding disaster-related betting. As reported by multiple sources, during the Eyton Fire in January 2025, users placed bets on Polymarket predicting how many acres would burn, which areas would be engulfed by flames, and when control would be achieved. The platform has faced criticism for allowing users to bet on real-world disasters, with one user commenting 'That was fun. Thanks everyone. Until next time!' following the California wildfires. Polymarket maintains that the platform serves as a valuable source of information during disasters and is not gambling, with a spokesperson noting that 'People turn to the news for commentary, and they come to Polymarket for information.'
As reported by Devdiscourse, regulatory scrutiny is not isolated to France, with Spain temporarily banning Polymarket and competitor Kalshi from operating in recent months. The leading U.S. derivatives regulator has also released draft regulations affecting the prediction market sector in June, with the U.S. House panel having launched a probe against Polymarket and Kalshi in recent months. The growing regulatory pressures come amid increasing popularity of prediction markets for allowing users to bet on real-world events, prompting authorities to examine customer protection and market integrity concerns. France's two-stage approach, first targeting transactions in November 2024 and then targeting site access in July 2026, represents a replicable playbook that other regulators may follow. A favorable ruling on the question of whether these platforms constitute gambling would have implications well beyond France, potentially shaping how regulators in Germany, the Netherlands, and other EU member states approach the category. Lawmakers have called for tougher regulation and for some bets to be banned on the basis that they serve no economic purpose and may be harmful to the public interest. Industry experts warn that proper regulation can raise standards across the industry, encourage innovation and push traditional operators to rethink products, promotions and customer engagement strategies, while emphasizing the importance of regulatory certainty for building sustainable business models and facilitating relationships with banks, technology providers and payment service providers.
