Polymarket plans to challenge France’s decision to block its website, arguing that the order prevents users from accessing its market odds, even though trading from the country has been disabled since November 2024.
France’s national gambling authority ordered ISPs to block the platform last week, saying it exposed users to potential losses and offered markets that could be manipulated.
Polymarket said it would challenge the decision through the French court system, calling the order disproportionate because it covers users who visit the site for information rather than to shop.
“We were surprised by ANJ’s decision to block access to our entire website because their measure targets people who go to Polymarket solely for information,” the company said in a press release.
“We are proud that most people come to Polymarket solely to learn the probabilities of future events relevant to their everyday life with no intention of trading,” the company added. “Prediction markets help find the truth.”
The dispute is partly about how Polymarket’s contracts should be classified. The company describes them as blockchain-based financial instruments traded directly between users, with prices determined by market activity.
