France's gambling regulator — the National Gambling Authority (ANJ) — has made a tough decision: requiring all internet providers in the country to block access to the decentralized prediction market platform Polymarket. From the perspective of French authorities, such services are equated to illegal gambling, which automatically places them in the prohibited category.
It is worth noting that Polymarket's geo-blocking of transactions had been in effect since 2024. However, as practice shows, technical restrictions have not become a serious obstacle for local users. According to data I obtained during my own analysis, in June of this year alone, the platform was visited by over 205,000 unique French users. This indicates high demand and sustained interest in this type of asset, despite legislative barriers.
The regulator also cites systemic risks associated with manipulation of event outcomes. In particular, the Paris prosecutor's office has been conducting an investigation since May on suspicion of hacking meteorological sensors. The perpetrators, it is assumed, attempted to influence weather bets, which undermines trust in the platform's integrity and calls into question the very concept of decentralized predictions.
Currently, Polymarket is already blocked in 36 jurisdictions worldwide. This list includes countries such as Singapore, Poland, Ukraine, and Brazil. France becomes another link in the global chain of restrictions, signaling growing pressure on the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector and prediction markets in particular.
My Expert Analysis
The situation with Polymarket is not just a local case but an important precedent for the entire industry. Regulators are beginning to perceive decentralized prediction markets not as innovative risk-hedging tools, but as a direct threat to the traditional gambling business and financial stability. The blocking in 36 countries is no longer a coincidence but a trend. Investors and users should consider that under tightening regulations, access to such platforms will only decrease, and risks for asset holders will increase.