France's gaming authority, the Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ), has ordered internet service providers to block the crypto prediction platform Polymarket nationwide due to concerns over illegal betting practices and market manipulation.
The move follows record user engagement from French IP addresses, which reached 578,000 visits last month despite previous restrictions imposed in November 2024. The ANJ cited the platform's real-time odds updates as constituting unauthorized advertising under French gambling laws. Violators face corporate fines nearing $114,000.
Data Manipulation Incident Sparks Crackdown
This decision comes after a cyberattack targeting Meteo-France’s weather probes was found to have manipulated data feeding Polymarket’s weather-related bets. Hackers altered environmental readings to guarantee winning outcomes for certain traders, prompting the national weather agency to file a formal complaint.
The breach exposed critical weaknesses in Polymarket’s data validation and security protocols. Investigations by Paris Public Prosecutor’s cybercrime unit revealed absence of essential safeguards like identity verification and know-your-customer processes, rendering the platform susceptible to rigged wagers.
This French episode highlights wider global issues surrounding prediction markets. Similar concerns about insider trading and security lapses have arisen internationally, including cases in the US where classified intelligence was allegedly used for betting.
