France Blocks Polymarket: 30 Countries Crack Down on Prediction Markets

France's gambling regulator, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), ordered internet service providers to block Polymarket on July 16, classifying the prediction market as an illegal gambling site. The ANJ noted that prior financial transaction bans failed to deter French users, with 578,751 visits from 205,057 unique visitors in June despite restrictions. A complaint from Météo-France over tampered temperature sensors linked to weather-based bets prompted a cybercrime investigation by the Paris prosecutor on May 4.

Polymarket's Global Blacklist and France's Stance

■Over 30 jurisdictions have restricted Polymarket, including Switzerland, Poland, Singapore, and Belgium between 2024 and 2026.

■100,000 euro fines underscore the regulatory crackdown on unauthorized platforms.

■Record $311 billion in RWA perpetual trading volumes in June highlight market resilience amid restrictions.

France's Strike on Market Transparency

Polymarket's real-time odds display remained accessible, enabling users to bypass restrictions via VPNs. The ANJ criticized the platform's lack of addiction safeguards and stake limits, reclassifying prediction markets as gambling in February 2026. This move complicates the integration of speculative events like the 2024 U.S. election into crypto ecosystems.

Berk Arıcan: Polymarket's widespread bans amplify risks in inflation rate dynamics and unlock schedules. France's action could destabilize supply-demand equilibrium, especially as RWA perpetual volumes surge. Regulatory uncertainty may erode user confidence and disrupt token distributions, signaling a pivotal moment for decentralized finance governance.