French Gambling Regulator Blocks Illegal Crypto Betting Platform Polymarket
France’s gambling regulator, l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), has taken decisive action against Polymarket.com, a cryptocurrency-driven prediction betting platform accused of illegally offering online gaming in the country.
ANJ Takes Action Against Illegal Gambling
Throughout November, the ANJ closely monitored Polymarket.com and identified activities that included online games of chance—commonly referred to as slots—which are strictly prohibited in France.
The regulator approached Adventure One QSS in late November, prompting the operator to implement a geoblocking system to restrict access from French users. This action, which took effect on November 21, followed earlier reports, including a Bloomberg article, highlighting potential regulatory action.
Penalties for Illegal Gambling Operators in France
Operating illegal gambling services in France carries severe penalties, including up to three years in prison and fines of €90,000. For cases involving organized groups, these penalties escalate to seven years of imprisonment and fines of €200,000.
To date, the ANJ has blocked over 944 URLs that violated French gambling laws. The regulator maintains a blacklist of banned sites, emphasizing the risks of engaging with illegal platforms, such as fraud, identity theft, and non-payment of winnings.
“The ANJ would like to warn people who play on illegal sites because they are exposing themselves to particularly serious risks,” the regulator stated.
This is not Polymarket’s first regulatory clash. In the US, the platform faced a $1.4 million fine from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in 2022 for failing to register as required. Following this, trading activities on the site were temporarily paused.
The Potential for Legal Online Slots in France
While France currently prohibits online slots, discussions surrounding their legalisation are gaining momentum. In October, the French government proposed an amendment to the 2025 budget, suggesting the introduction of online casino games. This proposal included a six-month consultation period scheduled for the upcoming year.
Although legislation might not pass until 2026, a favorable outcome from the consultation could pave the way for a regulated online slots market in France, offering players a safer and legal alternative.
