France’s Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ) ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket on Friday. The regulator said the platform operates without a gambling license in France and that advertising unauthorized gambling sites is a criminal offense punishable by fines up to 100,000 euros. Polymarket enables users to purchase contracts that settle based on the outcome of future events, including elections, sports, economic data and geopolitical developments. The service has attracted billions of dollars in trading volume over the past two years. The ANJ press release noted that Polymarket’s features are additive to regulated gambling offerings and that some event contracts may be susceptible to manipulation. The regulator cited examples in which weather‑related bets appeared to rely on potentially compromised sensors. In May 2026, the cybercrime unit of the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation after finding a lack of identity verification and know‑your‑customer checks. At the time of the announcement, Polymarket reported that its service was inaccessible in 36 regions. Polymarket has been blocked previously in Singapore, Poland, Portugal, Hungary, Ukraine, Brazil and Indonesia. The platform stated it is geoblocked in those regions. Regulators in the United States have also scrutinized prediction markets. On June 17, Kentucky filed a lawsuit against five platforms, including Polymarket, alleging unlicensed sports betting operations. At least 17 other states have filed similar actions, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has sued eight states over alleged interference with its authority over federally regulated event contracts. French authorities have not disclosed any timeline for enforcement beyond the immediate ISP directives. The outcome of the investigation and the effect on Polymarket’s operations remain uncertain.