Bet advertising alert comes into effect this Friday (17) France has blocked access to the Polymarket betting website, the authority responsible for regulating the gambling sector in the country reported this Friday (17). According to the agency, the platform can expose users to significant financial losses and offers bets that can be manipulated. In a statement, the regulator stated that, on Thursday (16), it ordered French internet providers to prevent access to Polymarket, explains Reuters in a report. According to the authority, the website, which has a large audience, operates a betting offer considered illegal under French law. A spokesperson for the agency said that the blockade will remain in force as long as the platform does not comply with the country's rules for the betting market. Polymarket did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Prediction market in the sights of authorities In recent months, authorities in different countries have increased supervision over prediction market platforms, such as Polymarket and Kalshi. These services allow users to bet money on future events, such as election results, sports matches, or political and economic developments. The value of bets varies according to the probability assigned to each outcome. Polymarket is one of the largest platforms for the so-called AFP prediction market via Getty Images/BBC In May, the Spanish government temporarily suspended the operations of Polymarket and Kalshi in the country. In June, the main regulatory body for the United States derivatives market released a proposal for new rules for this type of platform. In addition to sports and elections, the platforms allow betting on topics such as international conflicts, including the wars in Ukraine and Iran. Parliamentarians and authorities defend stricter rules for this market. According to them, some types of betting have no economic utility and may pose risks to the public interest. In the statement, the French regulator stated that users were placing bets on the weather forecast and warned that this type of market could be vulnerable to the use of privileged information - non-public data that could give undue advantage to those betting. A source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters last month that Polymarket's annualized revenue has already exceeded US$1 billion (R$5.13 billion). Annualized revenue is an estimate of the company's revenue over a 12-month period, calculated based on current performance. Brazil had 27 platforms blocked Brazil also joined the dance. In May, the federal government blocked 27 prediction platforms. From the same basket as Polymarket, they allowed bets linked to sporting events, online games and political, electoral, social, cultural or entertainment themes. The assessment is similar to that of other countries that this type of platform exposes Brazilians to financial risks and operates in non-compliance with Brazilian legislation. Government representatives also said that, since 2023, it has been adopting firmer regulation of the betting sector and that it is working to close the doors of companies that try to operate irregularly in the country. List of blocked platforms Read more: Betting regulation: government blocks 27 platforms that made predictions about events *With information from Reuters