Czech Republic Orders Polymarket Block Over Gambling Rules

• Czech authorities have classified Polymarket as an unauthorized gambling platform under national law.
• Internet service providers have been ordered to block access to the platform within 15 days.
• The decision follows similar enforcement actions across several European jurisdictions.
• The case highlights the growing regulatory divide over how blockchain-based prediction markets should be supervised.

Czech Republic Orders ISP Block on Polymarket The Czech Ministry of Finance has officially published an updated List of Unauthorized Internet Games, effective July 13, 2026, adding Polymarket to the register of operators deemed to be offering gambling services without the licenses required under Czech law. The updated register was published by the Ministry of Finance’s Department for Procedural Agendas and Gambling Regulation under Section 84d(5) of the Czech Gambling Act. Under the law, Czech internet service providers (ISPs) must block access to listed websites within 15 days of publication. Under the decision, internet service providers (ISPs) must restrict access to the platform for users in the Czech Republic within 15 days. The ruling places Polymarket alongside other online operators that Czech authorities consider to be offering gambling services without regulatory authorization. Authorities Reject Polymarket’s Business Model The decision reflects the Czech government’s view that prediction markets should be regulated according to their economic function rather than their underlying technology. Officials, including representatives of the Institute for Gambling Regulation, argue that users are effectively wagering money on uncertain future events regardless of whether transactions are structured as blockchain-based contracts. Authorities also cited broader regulatory concerns, including the absence of locally approved consumer protection measures, anti-money laundering safeguards and regulatory oversight required under Czech gambling law. For regulators, changing the terminology from bets to contracts does not alter the legal nature of the activity when participants risk money on uncertain outcomes. Part of a Broader European Crackdown The Czech Republic is the latest European jurisdiction to take action against Polymarket.
Similar restrictions or enforcement measures have already been introduced in:

• France
• Belgium
• Germany
• Spain
• Italy
• Romania
• The Netherlands

Outside Europe, regulators in India and Argentina have also moved against the platform during 2026, citing concerns over licensing requirements and consumer protection. The growing number of enforcement actions suggests regulators are increasingly applying existing gambling laws to prediction markets rather than creating new crypto-specific rules. Not Every Jurisdiction Is Taking the Same Approach While enforcement has intensified across much of Europe, regulatory approaches are not uniform.
Earlier this year, Gibraltar announced plans for a dedicated framework governing prediction markets instead of regulating them solely as gambling or financial derivatives. That approach reflects a broader policy debate facing regulators worldwide: whether blockchain-based prediction markets should be incorporated into existing legal categories or governed under rules tailored specifically to their hybrid structure. The Czech decision demonstrates that, for now, many European regulators continue to favor applying established gambling legislation over creating new regulatory frameworks for decentralized prediction markets.