Polymarket Challenges French Regulator's Website Blocking Action
Jacob Mitchell 
Key Takeaways:
- Polymarket filed a petition against French regulator's blocking order.
- ANJ ordered ISPs to block Polymarket's website in France.
- Regulator cited prediction markets as potential illegal gambling.
- Polymarket had previously geoblocked French users in November 2024.
- The platform resumed discussions with ANJ in June.
Prediction market platform Polymarket has filed a petition in France to challenge the gambling regulator’s recent decision to block its website. Gambling regulator l’Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ) ordered French internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to Polymarket, following repeated warnings that prediction market platforms may constitute illegal gambling under French law. This legal challenge aims to contest the regulator's action.
Regulator's Blocking Action and Polymarket's Response
The ANJ's order to French ISPs to block access to Polymarket's website came after the regulator had issued multiple warnings concerning the potential illegality of prediction market platforms under online gambling in France. Polymarket stated that this unilateral block prevents both those in France and French-speaking countries from accessing the “real-time insight into public sentiment, geopolitical events, and forecasting trends that our platform offers.” The platform clarified that it had already blocked trading from France in November 2024. This initial restriction was implemented by applying a geoblocking mechanism, specifically limiting access to the platform’s trading features for users located in France.
Engagement with French Authorities
Polymarket's decision to block French trading in November 2024 followed a period of discussions with the ANJ, which the platform undertook in a spirit of cooperation. During the intervening period after this initial geoblock, no new enforcement or disciplinary measures had been undertaken by the ANJ. However, discussions between Polymarket and the ANJ resumed in June this year, prompted by additional concerns regarding the platform's accessibility from French territory. While these discussions were ongoing, the ANJ president formally served Polymarket with a cease-and-desist order, a common action in matters of gambling regulatory compliance. This order specifically instructed Polymarket to stop “promoting unauthorized gambling sites.”
Commitment to Regulatory Compliance
Despite its disagreement with the gambling authority’s action, Polymarket acknowledged France's strong commitment to financial and technological innovation. The platform also noted that its recent discussions with French authorities have been constructive and encouraging. Polymarket continues to engage with French authorities, reiterating its commitment to operating in a manner that meets applicable regulatory expectations, a trend seen across regulated online casino markets. The company also aims to preserve the benefits of prediction markets for its users, while navigating the regulatory landscape.
