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France’s gambling authority has ordered internet service providers to geoblock Polymarket, citing illegal gambling and market‑manipulation concerns.
The Crypto Frontiers Editorial Desk · Published July 18, 2026 at 2:17 PM UTC · Updated July 18, 2026 at 2:17 PM UTC
France’s gambling authority has moved to block access to the crypto‑prediction market Polymarket for French users.
The French gambling authority, responsible for overseeing betting and gaming activities, directed every internet service provider operating in France to implement geoblocking for Polymarket. The directive specifically targets the platform because the regulator believes it facilitates gambling that is illegal under French law. The order also references apprehensions about market manipulation, suggesting the regulator views the platform’s prediction‑market mechanics as potentially abusive.
The only publicly available evidence comes from a Cointelegraph report, which states: “France’s gambling authority has ordered the country’s internet service providers to geoblock Polymarket, citing illegal gambling and market manipulation concerns.” This single sentence supplies three verifiable facts: (1) the regulator issued the order, (2) the order targets Polymarket, and (3) the cited reasons are illegal gambling and market manipulation. No additional details about enforcement timelines, penalties, or the platform’s response are provided in the source.
For users of Polymarket residing in France, the order means that standard broadband connections will no longer reach the platform, effectively cutting off access unless they employ circumvention tools. For operators of crypto‑based gambling services, the move signals that French authorities are prepared to act against platforms they deem non‑compliant with national gambling statutes. Stakeholders should monitor any subsequent regulatory guidance or legal challenges that may arise.
The source does not disclose how quickly ISPs must comply, what penalties apply for non‑compliance, or whether Polymarket plans to contest the order. It also offers no insight into whether similar actions are being considered against other crypto‑gambling platforms. Until further statements are released by the regulator or the platform, the precise impact on the broader crypto‑gambling ecosystem in France remains uncertain.
In short, the French gambling authority’s geoblocking order against Polymarket is a concrete regulatory step rooted in illegal‑gambling and market‑manipulation concerns, but many operational details are still pending.
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