France's gambling authority has instructed internet service providers to block access to Polymarket, escalating enforcement against the cryptocurrency-based prediction market platform. This follows a November 2024 financial transaction restriction that proved ineffective—despite the ban, the site continued attracting substantial French user traffic, with over 578,000 visits recorded in June alone. Regulators classify Polymarket as an illegal gambling operation and are now threatening fines up to €100,000 for anyone promoting such unauthorized platforms.

France's intensified action reflects a coordinated international regulatory response to prediction markets. Spain has ordered similar ISP blocks for Polymarket and competing platforms, while multiple US states including Minnesota have enacted legislative bans or filed lawsuits. These parallel enforcement efforts indicate growing consensus among regulators that decentralized betting platforms pose consumer protection risks warranting aggressive intervention.