Czech Republic Blocks Polymarket as Unlicensed Gambling

The Czech Republic is once again taking action against unregulated gambling offers. The Ministry of Finance has ordered the blocking of the prediction market platform Polymarket. Internet service providers must implement this order within 15 days. This measure joins a growing list of European countries taking action against similar services.

Authorities view Polymarket as an unlicensed gambling offering. Although the platform presents itself as an investment tool, its functionality and the structure of its contracts resemble bets on uncertain event outcomes. This has led the Ministry of Finance to place Polymarket on the list of unauthorized internet games.

Numbers and facts

On July 15, 2026, the Czech Ministry of Finance issued the order to block Polymarket. Internet providers have 15 days to implement the access block. The move follows similar actions in other European countries, including France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy. Italy had recently blacklisted Polymarket for the second time. The Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) had also previously imposed fines against Polymarket for providing illegal gambling services. This approach shows increased Europe-wide scrutiny of platforms operating in a gray area between investment and gambling.

Background

The discussion about prediction markets like Polymarket often revolves around whether they are financial products or bets. Czech officials argue that the way contracts and returns are structured on Polymarket effectively makes the platform a gambling product. A change in the service's name, for example, from “bet” to “contract,” does not alter the underlying activity. Operators are therefore subject to the same rules as gambling providers without a local license. The Director of the Czech Institute for Gambling Regulation, Jan Řehola, made this clear: > “Prediction markets aren’t harmless technological novelties. They involve betting on real-world events, often without clear accountability to the state, without standardized player-protection measures and without the rules that apply to legal gambling. If something looks like a bet, functions like a bet, and allows people to win or lose money depending on the outcome of an uncertain event, we cannot stop treating it as gambling simply because it is called a contract. We therefore consider the Ministry of Finance’s decision to add Polymarket to the List of Unauthorised Internet Games an important step in confirming that the same rules must apply to everyone. This is not about banning innovation. It is about ensuring that the same rules apply to everyone who offers betting for money. Player protection, the prevention of money laundering, and effective market supervision must not depend on what an operator chooses to call its product.”

Gibraltar, however, has taken a different approach. The world's first dedicated regulatory framework for prediction markets was introduced there. This creates a separate category with its own authorization and compliance requirements. An independent panel oversees implementation under the Gambling Act 2025. This highlights the different approaches in Europe: from complete blocking to creating specific regulatory frameworks.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, the development in the Czech Republic is another sign of strict regulation in online gambling within the EU. The German Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021) has drawn clear lines in Germany. Only providers listed on the whitelist of the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL) and holding a German license are permitted to legally offer gambling. This licensing is subject to strict conditions. These include a monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros, controlled via the central monitoring system LUGAS, and a stake limit of 1 euro per spin for online slot machines. Platforms like Polymarket, which operate in a gray area and do not hold such licenses, would also be illegal in Germany. The GGL consistently pursues the fight against illegal gambling offers. Players should therefore only use whitelist providers to avoid legal consequences and benefit from extensive player protection measures. Gray market offers, regardless of whether they disguise themselves as prediction markets or traditional casinos, carry high risks as they are not subject to the rules or controls of the GlüStV 2021.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For casinos with a GGL license, this international trend confirms their business models. They operate within a clear legal framework that ensures player protection and anti-money laundering. The strict requirements of German law, which include a stake limit of 1 euro per spin and a monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros, build trust among players. At the same time, LUGAS, the cross-state gambling supervision system, protects players from excessive participation and potential gambling addiction. The GGL actively works to curb the illegal market, which ultimately benefits licensed providers. Every blockade or regulation in the EU that curtails gray-area offerings strengthens the position of licensed operators and underscores the importance of a transparent and secure gambling market, clearly defined and controlled at the national level.