Polymarket vows French legal fight after nationwide website blocking order over gambling concerns
Summary
Polymarket has announced it will contest the French National Gambling Authority’s (ANJ) decision to block its website, arguing that the move is unexpected and that the platform offers non‑gambling financial instruments. The company says it will keep engaging with regulators while preparing a legal case in French courts, noting that French users can still view market data but cannot trade. Polymarket stresses that its prediction markets are peer‑to‑peer financial products, not traditional gambling, and that it does not profit from individual outcomes. The ANJ maintains that the service constitutes unauthorized gambling, citing concerns over addictive characteristics, potential manipulation, and insufficient KYC checks. The dispute follows the ANJ’s earlier order to block the site after monitoring activity since November 2024, and Polymarket remains in talks with the cybercrime unit of the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office.
(Source:Readwrite)