France has initiated a block on Polymarket, officially categorizing the service as an unlicensed gambling platform. The regulatory action coincides with market updates regarding sports wagering activity during the 2026 World Cup.
Regulatory and Market Developments
French authorities determined that Polymarket operates outside the national licensing framework for prediction markets. The platform will face access restrictions until it secures the required gambling permits.
Tournament-related wagering generated significant user growth across competing platforms. Kalshi registered three million new accounts throughout the 2026 World Cup cycle. Industry figure Drake allocated $1.5 million to a championship final wager, which did not yield a return.
Oversight efforts also targeted the Brazilian digital gambling sector. Research group Gamecheck documented 5,000 suspicious domains functioning as unauthorized casino sites in the country. The market data was compiled through GGM and iGaming News.