France orders ISPs to block Polymarket over illegal gambling

French authorities have ordered internet service providers to block access to the prediction market platform Polymarket, citing illegal gambling operations and concerns over market manipulation. The directive, enacted by the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) on July 16, 2026, represents a significant escalation in the country's regulatory crackdown on the platform.

The ANJ stated that Polymarket operates in France without proper licensing and that advertising unlicensed gambling sites is a criminal offense punishable by fines of up to 100,000 euros. Regulators highlighted that the platform incorporates addictive features similar to regulated gambling but lacks mandatory consumer protections. This action follows an earlier attempt to restrict the platform in November 2024, when authorities barred financial transactions from French accounts to the site. Despite that measure, the ANJ reported that Polymarket still attracted over 578,000 visits from France in June 2026.

A specific concern driving the enforcement is alleged market manipulation. Officials indicated that certain weather-related wagers on the platform showed signs of tampering, with evidence suggesting meteorological...