Polymarket, a blockchain-based prediction market, has restricted access to French users due to an ongoing government investigation into its compliance with national gambling laws. The platform, which enables users to bet on real-world outcomes using cryptocurrency, implemented the block on November 22nd.
The move comes amid increased scrutiny from France’s national gaming authority, the ANJ (Autorité Nationale des Jeux). The investigation was reportedly initiated after a French trader placed significant bets on President Donald Trump winning the 2024 US presidential election, an event that attracted major activity on the platform.
This situation raises questions about the legal standing of decentralized platforms like Polymarket in jurisdictions with stringent gambling regulations, such as France.
