France Blocks Polymarket Ahead of World Cup 3rd Place Match
France’s playing regulator has ordered web suppliers to dam entry to Polymarket. The order comes days earlier than Les Bleus face England within the FIFA World Cup 2026 bronze medal match.
The National Gambling Authority, often known as the ANJ, has labeled the platform an unlawful betting operation. It additionally flagged manipulation dangers simply because the prediction curiosity across the fixture builds.
France’s Regulator Moves to Cut Off Access
The ANJ’s president instructed French web suppliers to dam Polymarket totally, calling the platform’s providing unlawful. The regulator stated Polymarket attracts a very giant viewers whereas selling an unlawful playing and betting providing.
The company additionally flagged manipulation dangers tied to some Polymarket wagers. That provides stress on a platform dealing with scrutiny throughout Europe’s Polymarket bans. The Netherlands already threatened steep fines earlier this yr.
A Pattern Stretching Well Beyond France
France now joins a lengthening listing of regulators pushing again. Kentucky’s lawyer common filed a prediction market lawsuit towards Polymarket and Kalshi this yr. Australia tightened gambling ad restrictions round reside sports activities broadcasts.
Polymarket, in the meantime, has stored courting friendlier jurisdictions. The firm is reportedly pursuing a Japan approval push, concentrating on Tokyo by 2030.
The cut up exhibits a conflict between cautious regulators and Polymarket. Regulators fear about consumer hurt. Polymarket insists its contracts serve legit value discovery, not playing.
Bettors Still Favor Les Bleus
None of that scrutiny has cooled curiosity in at the moment’s third-place playoff. That mirrors a broader surge in World Cup prediction markets all through the match. Polymarket’s reside market costs France at 67 cents to beat England. That implies roughly a 67% probability for Les Bleus.
The French ban doesn’t attain bettors overseas. But it indicators regulators are now not prepared to attend for prediction markets to police themselves. Whether Polymarket adapts its French providing or just walks away stays an open query heading into kickoff.
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