France don block access to Polymarket betting site, according to the country gambling regulator, wey dey fear say users fit lose plenty money and some bets fit be manipulated.
On July 16, 2026, the president of the French National Gambling Regulator order French internet service providers to block the site. The regulator tok say Polymarket promote illegal gambling and betting offers.
Access go remain blocked until the site comply with rights holders requirements and French gambling rules. Polymarket no give any comment when dem ask them about the matter.
Regulators don begin to tighten oversight for predictive markets like Polymarket and Kalshi, wey don become popular for recent years. These platforms allow traders to bet on different events, from sports matches to elections and even conflicts for Middle East.
Some lawmakers dey call for tighter regulations and ban for certain bets, saying dem no get economic value and fit harm public interest. The French regulator also note say some bets concern weather, and inside information fit don dey used for those operations.
According to one source, Polymarket annual revenue don pass $1 billion. Regulators now focus on strengthening oversight for the predictive markets industry and preventing harmful online gambling practices.
Czech authorities also add Polymarket to their gambling blacklist on July 13. The Czech Finance Ministry Department of Procedural Agendas and Gambling Regulation publish the listing. Under Czech law, ISPs must block access within 15 days.
The Czech Republic join many European countries wey don restrict Polymarket. According to the Institute for the Regulation of Gambling, the platform don dey blocked for Germany, Belgium, Romania, Switzerland, Poland, Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Spain and Ukraine. Brazil take similar action earlier for 2026.
Regulators for Netherlands, France, and UK don issue warnings say prediction market products fit already fall under existing gambling rules. On July 3, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) warn say some prediction market contracts fit be subject to EU rules wey ban binary options.
ESMA tok say classification depend on how contract dey structured, not how dem market am. Firms wey offer qualifying products to retail investors fit be bound by national laws under the 2018 binary options ban. Those wey offer to professional clients fit need authorization under MiFID II.
For US, the regulatory picture still unsettled. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) argue say event contracts fall under their exclusive jurisdiction as federally regulated derivatives. Several states don take separate legal action against Polymarket and Kalshi, alleging their products be illegal gambling.
Competing claims produce conflicting court rulings, and members of Congress call for legislation to clarify how such contracts should be classified. For June 2026, Senators John Curtis and Adam Schiff call on CFTC to open formal investigation into Polymarket.
The request follow Wall Street Journal report wey allege say social media creators run fake betting promotions tied to the platform. A Polymarket-affiliated entity don separately file applications with the National Futures Association to offer regulated margin trading, pending further CFTC approvals.
Trading volume across the sector still climb despite legal pressure. For June 2026, activity rise partly due to 2026 FIFA World Cup.
