Polymarket has filed a formal legal petition in France to challenge a unilateral website block imposed by the French gaming authority, Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ).

The move marks a significant escalation in the regulatory friction between decentralized prediction markets and national gambling regulators, impacting how real-time sentiment data is accessed in Europe.

Polymarket is seeking to overturn a decision by the ANJ that prevents users in France and French-speaking countries from accessing its platform.

The company argues that the block is an overreach that restricts access to geopolitical insights and forecasting trends, rather than just a measure against gambling. This legal challenge follows a period of voluntary compliance where Polymarket had already implemented geoblocking for French traders in November 2024.

According to the filing, Polymarket had been in active discussions with the ANJ to address regulatory concerns. Despite these talks, the ANJ president issued a cease-and-desist order aimed at stopping the promotion of what the regulator characterizes as “unauthorized gambling sites.” Polymarket contends that the unilateral block was implemented while discussions were still ongoing in June, despite no new enforcement or disciplinary measures being introduced in the months prior.

The company is now using appropriate legal channels to argue that its platform serves as a source of public sentiment and forecasting rather than a traditional gambling venue. While the trading features were already restricted for French users, the current block prevents even passive viewing of the platform’s data. Polymarket has stated it remains committed to a constructive dialogue with French authorities, citing the country’s general commitment to technological and financial innovation.