French regulator intervenes to block cryto operator Polymarket
The French regulatory body, l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), has effectively geo-blocked access to Polymarket.com, a cryptocurrency-oriented prediction betting platform that has been operating illegally within the country’s jurisdiction.
Throughout November, the ANJ closely monitored Polymarket.com, which is managed by Web3 developer Adventure One QSS, and determined that the platform’s gambling activities are “likely” in violation of French gambling legislation.
The offerings on Polymarket.com included online games of chance, most notably slot games, which are prohibited under current French law.
In late November, the ANJ engaged with Adventure One QSS, which operates under a license in Panama, to address these legal concerns. As a result of this discussion, an agreement was reached requiring the implementation of a geo-blocking system to restrict access for users located within French territories.
This situation first came to light approximately one month ago when Bloomberg reported that the ANJ was preparing to take action against Polymarket.com. The geo-block went live on November 21, according to various reports.
The ANJ noted that affected players should reach out to Adventure One QSS for any inquiries related to the action.
Polymarket has encountered similar legal challenges in the United States, where it has been prohibited from operating. In 2022, the platform paid a $1.4 million fine to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission after failing to register with the agency, which resulted in a temporary suspension of its trading activities.
Legal Consequences of Offering Illegal Games of Chance
Engaging in the operation of illegal gambling activities in France constitutes a serious criminal offense, potentially leading to imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of €90,000 (approximately £74,557/$94,609). If such offenses are perpetrated by an organized group, penalties can escalate to seven years’ imprisonment and fines reaching €200,000.
As of now, the ANJ has proactively blocked more than 944 website URLs found to be in violation of French gambling laws. The regulator keeps an updated blacklist accessible on its official website.
The ANJ issues a cautionary message to individuals playing on unauthorized platforms, highlighting severe risks such as non-payment of winnings, fraud relating to payment methods, identity theft, and the potential installation of harmful software.
“Should you have any concerns regarding the legality of a gambling site, please refer to the list of approved websites as published by the ANJ,” the organization advised.
Prospective Legalization of Online Slots in France
The potential legalization of online slots in France has garnered significant attention and discussion among stakeholders. In October, the French government signaled its strongest intention yet to consider such reforms.
The government proposed an amendment within its 2025 budget aimed at legalizing online casino games. Subsequently, budget minister Laurent Saint-Martin confirmed that a six-month consultation period would be initiated in the upcoming year to explore this proposal in depth.
Given the expected duration of this legislative process, it is unlikely that any new laws regarding online slots will be enacted before 2025. However, should the consultation yield favorable outcomes, there is a possibility that viable legislation could pave the way for legal online slots to be implemented by 2026.
