France blocks access to Polymarket website amid tighter regulation

France’s National Gaming Authority, or ANJ, announced it will block domestic access to the Polymarket website, The Straits Times reported. The move follows France’s ban on French accounts using the platform in November 2024. ANJ said Polymarket’s continued provision of services to French users amounts to advertising for an unlicensed gambling site. The authority said advertising for unlicensed gambling sites is a criminal offense and can carry fines of up to €100,000. While France allows sports betting, it restricts access to online prediction market platforms such as Polymarket along with Germany, Italy and Spain.