France's National Gambling Authority, the ANJ, has ordered internet service providers to block access to the prediction market platform Polymarket. The ANJ considers prediction websites illegal gambling operations. Polymarket's activities are unauthorized in France, and advertising such sites is a criminal offense. Prediction markets involve users trading contracts based on future event outcomes. Polymarket has seen significant growth but faces regulatory scrutiny regarding its contracts being illegal gambling or unlicensed financial products. France is the latest country to block Polymarket, joining Singapore, Poland, and Brazil among others, with the platform geoblocked in 36 regions. The ANJ cited Polymarket's "addictive features" and lack of protective mechanisms found in legal gambling. Concerns were also raised about potential outcome manipulation, with an example given of weather sensors possibly being hacked. An investigation by Paris prosecutors revealed a lack of identity verification on the platform. US regulators are also scrutinizing prediction markets, with Kentucky suing several platforms, and other states following suit. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has also taken action regarding state interference in federal regulation of event contracts.