France has officially blocked access to Polymarket, the crypto-based prediction market platform, after the country’s gambling regulator deemed the service illegal. The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) issued an order requiring internet service providers to restrict access to the site, citing violations of French gambling laws.
What the Ban Means for French Users
As of early November 2025, Polymarket’s website is inaccessible from French IP addresses. Visitors are greeted with a notice stating that the site is blocked by order of the ANJ. The regulator determined that Polymarket’s model—where users place bets on outcomes of real-world events such as elections, sports, and economic indicators—falls under the definition of gambling under French law. Polymarket does not hold a license to operate such a service in France.
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The ANJ’s decision follows a broader crackdown on unlicensed online gambling platforms. France has one of the strictest gambling regulatory regimes in Europe, requiring operators to obtain explicit authorization to offer betting services. Polymarket, which is based in the United States and operates using blockchain technology and cryptocurrency, never applied for or received such authorization.
Why France Acted Now
The timing of the ban appears linked to Polymarket’s explosive growth during the 2024 U.S. presidential election cycle, when the platform processed over $3 billion in trading volume on political contracts alone. French regulators observed a significant number of users from France participating in these markets, prompting an investigation. The ANJ’s ruling concluded that Polymarket’s operations “constitute an illegal gambling offering” and that the platform “presents risks to consumers, including potential addiction and financial loss.”
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France is not the first country to take action against Polymarket. The platform has faced scrutiny from regulators in the United Kingdom, Singapore, and several U.S. states. However, France’s move is among the most decisive, involving a formal blocking order enforced at the ISP level rather than merely a warning or fine.
Implications for the Prediction Market Industry
The French ban raises broader questions about the regulatory future of prediction markets. These platforms, which allow users to bet on the probability of future events, occupy a gray area between gambling, financial derivatives, and information markets. Regulators in multiple jurisdictions are still determining how to classify them.
Polymarket has argued that its platform is not gambling but rather a market for information aggregation, where users trade on outcomes to reveal collective wisdom. Critics counter that the platform functions identically to a sportsbook or political betting site, with users risking real money on uncertain events. The ANJ’s ruling sides firmly with the latter view.
For Polymarket, the French block represents a significant loss of a European user base. France was one of the platform’s larger markets outside the United States. The company has not publicly stated whether it will challenge the ANJ’s order or seek to comply with French regulations.
Industry observers note that the ban could have a chilling effect on other prediction market platforms operating in Europe. If France’s approach is adopted by other EU member states, the entire sector may need to reconsider its regulatory strategy. Some platforms are exploring licensed models in jurisdictions like Gibraltar or Malta, but none have yet secured approval to operate in France.
For now, French users who wish to participate in prediction markets face a choice: comply with the law and stop using Polymarket, or risk accessing the site via VPN—a move that could carry legal consequences. The ANJ has made clear that it will continue to monitor the situation and may take further action against users or facilitators who attempt to circumvent the block.
