France's gambling regulator imposes fine and blocks Polymarket

France’s National Gambling Authority (ANJ) has taken two enforcement actions against online betting services. On July 16, 2026 the regulator fined an unnamed operator €500,000 after an investigation covering October 2023 to March 2024 found the company failed to identify or protect 29 high‑risk players, misclassifying many and not applying graduated safeguards as required by French law. The penalty reflects breaches of obligations to early‑detect problem gambling and to intervene proportionally.

In a related measure, the ANJ ordered French internet service providers to block access to the prediction‑market site Polymarket, arguing the platform could expose users to significant gambling losses and that some bets might be manipulable. The decision follows similar actions by Spain, which temporarily banned Polymarket and Kalshi, and recent U.S. regulatory drafts targeting prediction markets. Polymarket officials were not immediately reachable for comment.