TITLE: France's Gambling Authority Warns of Illegal Prediction Market Platforms Presenting Addiction Risks
BODY:
On February 24, 2026, France's National Gambling Authority (Autorité Nationale des Jeux — ANJ) issued a warning regarding illegal prediction market platforms operating in France, highlighting significant risks to users from unregulated gambling activities.
Prediction market platforms allow users to wager on the outcomes of political, sporting, and geopolitical events. The sector has experienced substantial growth, particularly following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, with cumulative transaction volumes across major global platforms exceeding $27.9 billion between January and October 2025. The ANJ determined in November 2024 that services offered by major platforms, including Polymarket and Kalshi, constitute unauthorised gambling offerings under French law. In response, these platforms implemented geoblocking measures to prevent betting from France without virtual private networks.
The ANJ identifies several amplified addiction risks associated with prediction markets compared to regulated gambling sites. These include 24-hour platform accessibility, absence of integrated betting limits beyond stake amounts, no time restrictions, and lack of age verification controls. The platforms' marketing targets users who perceive prediction markets as investment vehicles rather than gambling, creating an illusion of competence that intensifies engagement and addiction risk. Media coverage of substantial gains and the possibility of "easy profits" reinforces this perception. Additionally, the ANJ notes potential risks of market manipulation and opinion manipulation, as actors can financially benefit from influencing event outcomes.
Internationally, regulatory approaches vary. Multiple European jurisdictions including Germany, Belgium, Romania, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland, Greece, Cyprus, Ukraine, and Portugal have blocked access to Polymarket. In the United States, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) authorised Polymarket in November 2025, though Nevada's Gaming Control Board has initiated legal action against the platform. Australia's regulator blacklisted Polymarket on August 14, 2025, and Colombia's regulator requested internet service providers block the platform in September 2025.
REFERENCES:
https://www.anj.fr/actualites-et-medias/actualites/plateformes-de-marches-de-prediction-des-sites-illegaux-en-france-qui-peuvent-presenter-des-risques-pour-les-utilisateurs