France’s gambling regulator, L’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), has stepped up enforcement against crypto‑based prediction market platforms it deems to be operating without the necessary authorisations and therefore constituting unauthorised gambling activity within French territory. The move underscores widening regulatory scrutiny on non‑traditional wagering products that fall outside the country’s tightly controlled gaming regime.
Key Insights from ANJ’s Latest Move on Illegal Gambling
In its latest enforcement action, France’s gambling authority, ANJ, has moved to block certain prediction market platforms that it deems to be operating outside the boundaries of the country’s gambling laws. This crackdown highlights the increasing regulatory scrutiny on non-traditional gambling products, particularly those involving cryptocurrency or decentralised finance. With rising concerns over consumer protection, fraud prevention, and the growing threat of illegal gambling, operators of such platforms must now confront heightened risks of legal and financial consequences. Here are the key strategic takeaways for operators and stakeholders in the industry.
- ANJ views certain online prediction markets as “offers of games of chance” under French gambling law; operators are now subject to blocking and legal risk.
- Operators must assess compliance structures now or face administrative blocking and potential criminal exposure.
- Consumer protection and anti‑fraud imperatives anchor enforcement — with geo‑blocking used to deny French access.
- Second‑order pressures will emerge for digital finance and crypto platforms offering betting‑like services on real‑world events.
- The broader illegal gaming context in France remains elevated, as previous ANJ data shows the black market far exceeding the regulated sector.
Regulatory Action Against Unauthorised Betting Sites
The ANJ’s announcement, originating from its official decision registry, confirms that it examined the operations of Polymarket.com, a decentralised cryptocurrency‑based prediction market platform managed by Panama‑registered Adventure One QSS Inc. The regulator concluded that the site’s offerings were “likely to be considered as unauthorised gambling and betting services”, essentially categorising them as illegal gambling under French law.
Following direct engagement with the operator, Polymarket implemented geo‑blocking to prevent any taking of wagers from IP addresses within France, effectively shutting off its French addressable market in late 2024.
Under French statutes, providing unauthorised gambling services carries potential criminal penalties: up to three years in prison and €90,000 in fines, rising to seven years and €200,000 if prosecuted as part of organised wrongdoing.
France’s Strict Gambling Law Enforces Market Clarity
France’s gambling law reserves authorised betting activity to licensed operators under the ANJ’s oversight. Traditionally this has included sports betting, horse racing and online poker but explicitly excludes unlicensed games that involve a “financial sacrifice” for a chance‑dependent gain, which regulators interpret many prediction markets to resemble.
This view aligns with broader French legal principles: platforms that present uncertain outcomes and require monetary stakes are likely to be classified as “games of chance and gambling” unless they hold the appropriate authorisations from the ANJ.
Operational Impact for Digital Platforms and Payment Services
The decision to target prediction markets comes amid ANJ’s longstanding priority to combat illegal gambling. Domestic research and enforcement data show hundreds of illegal gaming websites still attracting millions of French players, dwarfing the legal landscape. Legal self‑exclusion and blocking tools apply only to licensed operators, leaving unlicensed services outside protective frameworks.
Regulatory outreach in related areas, such as parental support mechanisms and youth protection, continues to emphasise tightening compliance across both advertised and black‑market segments of the gambling ecosystem. As Ace Alliance previously reported, recent French measures have sought to bolster protections for younger demographics and those vulnerable to harm.
For licensed operators, the ANJ’s stance reinforces the need to differentiate regulated offerings from emerging financial‑gambling hybrids. Product teams must now reflect on whether derivative‑style prediction products could trigger gambling classifications in France and similar jurisdictions.
Payment and compliance teams face renewed scrutiny, as channels that facilitate unauthorised wagering can be targeted by enforcement actions or compelled to deny service to non‑compliant operators.
Legal counsel and risk functions should prioritise internal audits of platform features that resemble betting or wagering, even where marketed as “markets”, to avoid crossover into regulated game offerings.
The Broader Regulatory Landscape for Gambling Platforms
France’s actions align with similar steps taken in other European markets, where regulators have blocked or restricted crypto‑based betting and prediction platforms for non‑compliance with local licensing requirements. These trends highlight the increasing friction between decentralised fintech innovation and traditional gambling regulation aimed at ensuring consumer protection and market integrity.
Beyond enforcement on unlicensed platforms, French authorities are also advancing complementary protections for vulnerable populations. Recent measures to enhance parental support and youth gambling safeguards underscore a broader regulatory strategy that links prohibition of unauthorised gambling with preventive frameworks targeting at‑risk groups, reinforcing the need for operators to embed robust compliance, consumer protection, and harm‑minimisation measures across their product lifecycles.
As regulatory frameworks evolve, there is a possibility of clearer statutory guidance in France on how prediction markets and similar products fit within existing gambling definitions, particularly as these platforms gain traction outside traditional classified markets.