Is Polymarket legal in France?
No. Polymarket is blocked in France. The country is on Polymarket's list of 33 restricted countries. French users cannot create accounts, deposit funds, or trade on the platform.
Although Polymarket is blocked in France, many French users bypass this restriction by using a VPN. A VPN changes your apparent location, making it look like you're connecting from a country where Polymarket is available. This violates Polymarket's Terms of Service, but it remains a widely used method. Accounts could be restricted if detected.
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Why is Polymarket blocked in France?
In November 2024, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), France's national gambling regulator, ordered Polymarket to be geoblocked for French users. The ANJ classified prediction markets as unlicensed gambling, which is illegal without a license in France.
The crackdown was triggered in part by a French trader known as "Fredi9999" who placed over $28 million in bets on Trump winning the 2024 US election. This drew massive media attention in France and forced the ANJ to act.
How French regulations apply
France has strict gambling laws. The ANJ regulates all online gambling, and only platforms holding a French license can legally offer betting services. Polymarket has not applied for a French license.
Crypto is legal in France and regulated by the AMF (Autorité des Marchés Financiers). However, the classification of prediction markets as gambling rather than financial instruments means the ANJ has jurisdiction.
Alternatives for French users
French residents interested in prediction markets have limited regulated options. Some decentralized protocols may be accessible. For traditional event-based trading, certain spread betting platforms operate with EU licenses.
Want to understand prediction markets? Read our beginner guide.
