When a regulator announces new limits on gambling advertising, the instinct across most affiliate teams is to file it under someone else's problem. That is the operator's...
France to block Polymarket over illegal gambling concerns
The French gambling regulator (ANJ) has required internet service providers (ISPs) to block users’ access to Polymarket after the prediction market platform was found to have been available for local users without a license.
The order was issued by the president of the ANJ on July 16, 2026, after a full review of Polymarket’s service in the country. Additionally, France had banned financial transactions back in 2024, but the regulator shared that the operator circumvented the enforcement, leading to the direct prohibition of its service. According to the ANJ, 578,751 visits were recorded to Polymarket’s website during June 2026.
The regulatory body further stated that prediction platforms used virtual private networks (VPNs) to avoid the blocks, while Polymarket kept its homepage accessible, which allowed users to view odds and markets. From the ANJ’s perspective, these violations were classified as promotions of illegal gambling.
The ANJ shared in a statement:
“Advertising, by any means whatsoever, in favor of an unauthorized betting or gambling site is a criminal offense.”
The authority also stressed that breaching local gambling laws could lead to penalties reaching up to $114,000.
Enforcement action against Polymarket marks another step in France’s fight against unlicensed gambling practices, with the ANJ highlighting its blocking orders of 1,290 URLs in 2025.
The Council of Europe has targeted FIFA over its partnership with prediction market platforms, accusing the association of risking the World Cup’s integrity framework and...
