France Blocks Polymarket Ahead of England World Cup Match
France's ANJ calls Polymarket an illegal betting operation and points to manipulation risks. The block fits into broader European enforcement against prediction markets.
Key Takeaways
- France has ordered internet providers to block Polymarket ahead of the bronze-medal World Cup match between France and England.
- France's gambling regulator, ANJ, calls Polymarket an illegal betting operation and warns about manipulation risks.
- The move fits into tougher European enforcement around prediction markets and licensing requirements.
France has told internet providers to block Polymarket before the bronze-medal World Cup match between Les Bleus and England. France's gambling regulator, ANJ, says the platform is running an illegal betting operation and has also raised concerns about possible manipulation tied to wagers on the match.
Regulator Steps In
The ANJ president has instructed French internet providers to completely cut off access to Polymarket. In the regulator's view, the platform is offering illegal gambling and betting services while still attracting a large user base. The decision lands as interest in prediction markets tied to the tournament continues to build.
France's action also lines up with a wider European effort to tighten oversight of these platforms. Spain had already blocked Polymarket and Kalshi in May 2026 for operating without the required gambling license. Earlier this year, the Netherlands also signaled the sector could face steep fines.
More Pressure on Prediction Markets
Polymarket has been under scrutiny for some time. In 2022, the platform reached a $1.4 million (€1.2 million) settlement with the CFTC in the United States over operating an unregistered derivatives exchange. After that, it blocked U.S. users and began working on a CFTC-regulated U.S. version, Polymarket US, which launched in 2025.
The debate over where market information ends and gambling begins keeps resurfacing elsewhere too. Polymarket argues that its contracts are designed for price discovery, while regulators focus on consumer protection and the risk of market manipulation. The company has since added stricter identity checks and now also blocks VPN addresses from geoblocked regions to restrict access.
What This Means for Europe
For European crypto and web3 followers, France's move is another sign that prediction markets are no longer being treated as a niche product. Once sports events, political outcomes, or other public events are traded through tokens and contracts, the discussion quickly shifts to licenses, consumer protection, and enforcement. That could have implications for other platforms trying to operate across multiple countries.
