South Korea has also blocked Polymarket and referred 18 traders to prosecutors, GamblingNews reports.
The hit
Lithuania’s gambling regulator has ordered Polymarket blocked, calling its contracts illegal gambling. The Regional Administrative Court approved the move, directing ISPs to restrict the site and payment providers to halt transactions with the platform. This is the first time Lithuania has acted against a prediction market operator.
Why it matters
For bettors, it signals prediction markets face the same regulatory scrutiny as traditional gambling. Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany and France have also targeted Polymarket, and Denmark has blocked it, GamblingNews reports. South Korea has separately blocked the platform and referred 18 individuals to prosecutors for placing trades, according to the report. The regulator says its probe found ‘signs of gambling – betting’ despite Polymarket’s label.
The record
Lithuania’s Supervisory Authority ordered Polymarket blocked after the Regional Administrative Court approved the measure, GamblingNews reports. The regulator directed internet service providers to restrict access and told payment providers to end all transactions with the platform. Other jurisdictions, including Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France and Denmark, have also targeted the platform, according to GamblingNews, with Denmark also blocking it. South Korea separately blocked Polymarket and referred 18 individuals to prosecutors for placing trades, the report says. The regulator said its investigation found ‘signs of gambling – betting’ despite the platform’s prediction-market label.
| Regulator | Lithuania’s Supervisory Authority |
|---|---|
| Court | Regional Administrative Court approved the block |
| Action | ISPs ordered to restrict access; payment providers told to halt transactions |
| Other jurisdictions | Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France have also targeted the platform; Denmark has blocked it |
| South Korea | Blocked Polymarket, referred 18 individuals to prosecutors |
What happens next
Prediction markets remain popular despite mounting regulatory opposition, GamblingNews reports, with authorities in Europe and South Korea continuing enforcement action against Polymarket.
Sources: Polymarket Targeted in Lithuania as Gambling Regulator Takes Action
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