How to Use Polymarket in France [2026 Updated]

France is one of 33 countries where Polymarket is fully blocked as of 2026, making how to use Polymarket in France one of the most searched questions among French prediction market enthusiasts.

The restriction was triggered in late 2024 when France’s National Gambling Authority (ANJ) launched a regulatory probe after a French trader named Théo placed over $30 million betting on the US presidential election.

The ban placed France alongside other major European markets including Germany, Belgium, the UK, and Italy, all blocked because regulators classify Polymarket’s prediction markets as unlicensed gambling activity.

Why Polymarket Is Blocked in France?

France’s ANJ (Autorité Nationale des Jeux) classifies prediction markets as a form of betting, and Polymarket does not hold a French gambling license.

This places it firmly outside the legal framework that governs online gambling in France, which requires platforms to obtain explicit authorization before offering wagering services to French residents.

The ANJ began its investigation on November 7, 2024, just after the US election results. Polymarket responded by implementing IP-based geo-blocking for French users, displaying a message on the platform stating that persons in France are not permitted to use the platform.

The ANJ did not issue a formal press release; it relied on Polymarket itself to notify users through an onsite pop-up.

French authorities have reportedly been planning to formalize and deepen the ban since, making the restriction unlikely to lift in the near term without a regulatory agreement.

How Polymarket’s Geoblocking Works?

Polymarket uses IP address detection as its primary blocking mechanism. When you visit the site, the platform checks your IP address against a list of restricted regions and automatically blocks the trading interface if you are accessing from a blocked country.

The system also uses browser fingerprinting as a secondary detection layer, which means simply masking your IP may not always be sufficient to pass Polymarket’s verification checks.

The geoblocking applies specifically to:

• Opening new positions on any market
• Creating new accounts while located in France
• Accessing the trading interface in any form

Users who already held open positions before the ban was enforced may still access a “close-only” mode on some platforms, though Polymarket’s full block for France means even this limited access is not officially available.

Can You Use a VPN to Access Polymarket From France?

The honest answer is: technically yes, practically risky, and officially prohibited.

Multiple French journalists and traders confirmed in late 2024 that a VPN allowing you to appear as if you are in a non-restricted country does allow the Polymarket interface to load and trade.

However, the risks are significant and clearly outlined in Polymarket’s own terms of service.

What Polymarket’s Terms Say?

Polymarket explicitly states: “Use of measures to circumvent or attempt to circumvent these restrictions is strictly prohibited”.

If the platform detects VPN usage through IP analysis or browser fingerprinting, the consequences include:

• Immediate account suspension
• Permanent ban from the platform
• Loss of access to funds held in your connected wallet
• No recourse or appeal process for accounts terminated for ToS violations

Polymarket detects VPNs through a combination of IP reputation databases (which flag known VPN server IP ranges) and behavioral fingerprinting, meaning even premium VPNs carry detection risk.

There is no officially safe way to use a VPN with Polymarket; the only safe approach is accessing the platform from a country where it is officially supported.

How to Use Polymarket in France: Legal Alternatives

Since directly accessing Polymarket from France carries terms-of-service and legal risks, the better long-term approach is using prediction market platforms that operate legally within French jurisdiction or EU regulatory frameworks. Several alternatives offer a comparable experience:​

Platform	Access in France	Currency	Key Feature
Kalshi	Check current status	USD	US-regulated, CFTC licensed
Manifold Markets	Generally accessible	Play money (free)	No real money; pure forecasting
Metaculus	Accessible	No real money	Research-grade forecasting
Betfair Exchange	Restricted in FR	EUR	EU-licensed betting exchange
PredictIt	Restricted	USD	US-focused political markets

Manifold Markets and Metaculus are particularly valuable for French users who want to engage with prediction market mechanics, sharpen forecasting skills, and track political and economic probabilities without any legal or financial risk.

Both platforms are entirely free and accessible without restriction in France.

Setting Up a Polymarket Account

For users who access Polymarket from a supported jurisdiction or are researching the platform for when restrictions lift, the account setup process works as follows:​

1. Visit polymarket.com and connect a compatible crypto wallet (MetaMask or Coinbase Wallet are the most commonly used)
2. Fund your wallet with USDC (a US dollar-pegged stablecoin) via a crypto exchange like Coinbase or Kraken
3. Bridge your USDC to the Polygon network, where all Polymarket transactions settle
4. Browse available markets, select a question, and purchase YES or NO shares depending on your prediction
5. Shares are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, representing the implied probability of each outcome
6. If your position resolves correctly, each winning share pays out $1.00 USDC.

The platform uses no traditional username and password system; your wallet address is your identity.

This also means that wallet security is your personal responsibility, with no account recovery option if you lose access to your private keys.

What French Traders Should Watch in 2026

The French regulatory environment for prediction markets remains uncertain but not necessarily permanently closed.

Polymarket began operating legally in the United States in 2025 after regulatory negotiations, demonstrating that the platform is willing to pursue licensed access in major markets when the compliance path is viable.

For France specifically, a resolution would require either:

• Polymarket obtaining a license from the ANJ under France’s gambling framework
• France updating its regulatory definitions to distinguish prediction markets from traditional gambling
• A broader EU-level regulatory framework emerging that covers decentralized prediction platforms

French crypto and prediction market communities remain active in advocating for regulatory clarity, and the outcome of the ANJ’s formal investigation into Polymarket will set an important precedent for how other EU regulators treat similar platforms.

The straightforward answer to how to use Polymarket in France in 2026 is that you cannot do so legally or safely from within French territory under the current regulatory framework.

The ANJ ban is active, Polymarket enforces it through IP blocking and browser fingerprinting, and circumventing it via VPN violates the platform’s terms of service with real consequences of permanent loss of account access and funds.

French users passionate about prediction markets are best served by engaging with free alternatives like Manifold Markets and Metaculus while monitoring the regulatory situation for any ANJ licensing developments that could eventually bring Polymarket back to France through a compliant pathway.