ANJ orders blocks against Polymarket in France

• France orders a complete block against Polymarket, as national regulator deems platform unsafe for consumers
• Another worry cited by the regulator has to do with whether Polymarket complies with the country’s gambling laws
• Polymarket has faced similar pressure elsewhere in Europe, including in France, Spain and Germany

France has been on Polymarket’s tail at least since 2024, with recent scrutiny intensifying and leading to a decision to issue a country-wide block against the prediction market platform.

France says Polymarket can’t operate locally

Polymarket has been under pressure across multiple jurisdictions, and European countries such as Germany, Italy, and Spain have followed a similar path in limiting access to Polymarket.

Spain, in particular, banned both Polymarket and Kalshi in May, citing the same fears over gambling and consumer safety.

The National Gambling Authority (ANJ for its French acronym) announced on Friday that it has moved to order the blocking of the prediction market platform, citing concerns over consumer safeguards.

The ANJ argued that users could experience significant losses, and noted that some of the event contracts offered on Polymarket were easily manipulated. In a translated statement on its website, the ANJ said:

"On July 16, 2026, the president of France's National Gambling Authority ordered French internet service ​providers to block access to the Polymarket website. The site, which ​attracts a particularly large audience, is promoting an illegal gambling ⁠and betting offering."

The ANJ noted that there were no immediate plans to restore access to the platform, and the regulator said that the block will last for as long as the regulator considered Polymarket to not be complying with the country’s gambling laws.

Fears over insider trading, markets that can be manipulated

Similarly, the ANJ also warned against advertising unauthorized gambling services, including event contract platforms, noting that potential penalties could include a fine of up to $114,000.

Besides consumer safety, the ANJ has also spoken about the risk of certain markets being manipulated. A teleprompter operator is reportedly in talks with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to settle a case that involves him placing bets on President Donald Trump’s speeches, which he saw beforehand and tracked live, knowing when POTUS would go off-script, for example.

At least one insider of the US military apparatus has been known to profit from his inside knowledge, while accusations run rampant that members of the President’s inner circle are abusing prediction markets for their personal gain, although these accusations are merely conjecture for the time being.

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