Polymarket Challenges France's Website Block With Legal Action

Key Points

Table of Contents

The ANJ (France’s National Gambling Authority) instructed ISPs to restrict access to Polymarket
On July 22, Polymarket announced plans to contest the restriction via French courts
The regulator expressed worries about gambling-related losses and contract manipulation risks
In May 2025, Spanish authorities imposed temporary restrictions on Polymarket and Kalshi
June saw the U.S. CFTC publish proposed regulatory guidelines for prediction market operations

The prediction market giant Polymarket has announced it will mount a legal challenge in France following a ban imposed by the nation’s gambling oversight body.

LATEST: 🇫🇷 Polymarket plans to legally challenge France's gaming authority after it blocked the site nationwide. pic.twitter.com/MF6CqARKVp
— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) July 23, 2026

The ANJ, France’s gambling regulatory authority, recently directed internet providers to block access to Polymarket’s platform. According to the agency, the site presents risks of significant financial losses to users and raises concerns about potential manipulation in certain prediction contracts.

The company responded swiftly to the decision. In a July 22 statement, Polymarket expressed dissatisfaction with what it described as the ANJ’s “abrupt move to unilaterally restrict” access to its services, vowing to pursue all available legal remedies in French courts.

The platform enables participants to wager on the outcomes of real-world events across diverse categories including political races, sporting competitions, and financial indicators. Trading volume on the platform has reached billions of dollars over recent years.

Growing European Regulatory Scrutiny

The French action is part of a broader European trend. Spain implemented temporary prohibitions on both Polymarket and competitor Kalshi in May. France’s recent decision aligns with this regulatory approach.

Notably, the French ban did not extend to Kalshi. The ANJ’s directive specifically singled out Polymarket, an action the company characterized as one-sided.

European authorities continue grappling with the fundamental classification of prediction markets—whether they constitute gambling operations or qualify as financial trading platforms. This classification debate lies at the core of regulatory tensions.

American Regulators Increase Oversight

Across the Atlantic, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission unveiled proposed regulatory standards for prediction market platforms in June. These guidelines seek to establish comprehensive oversight mechanisms for the sector.

Additionally, a Congressional committee in the U.S. House has initiated an investigation examining both Polymarket and Kalshi in recent weeks. The platforms face mounting scrutiny from various governmental bodies.

Undeterred by domestic regulatory challenges, Kalshi continues pursuing growth initiatives. The platform has announced intentions to launch perpetual futures contracts for precious metals including gold, silver, and platinum.

Polymarket’s upcoming court battle in France represents a significant legal test case for applying existing gambling regulations to modern prediction market platforms throughout Europe.

The judicial decision could establish important precedents influencing how other European nations regulate comparable platforms in the future.

Legal proceedings are anticipated to progress through French courts over the next several months.