The Czech Ministry of Finance added Polymarket to its list of unauthorized online gambling platforms on July 13. The Czech Gambling Regulatory Research Institute (GCIB) announced the news on July 14; internet service providers (ISPs) have 15 days to block access to Polymarket, and the Ministry’s blacklist currently covers thousands of websites.
Czech Ministry of Finance Blacklists Polymarket on July 13
According to reports, on July 13, 2026, the Czech Ministry of Finance added Polymarket to its list of unauthorized online gambling platforms. The Gambling Regulatory Research Institute formally announced this the next day (July 14). ISPs have 15 days to block access to the Polymarket platform. The Ministry’s blocking blacklist currently covers thousands of websites. The Czech Republic has become the latest European country to classify Polymarket as an unlicensed gambling platform, joining other countries such as Italy and the Netherlands in blocking it.
Řehola: Prediction markets let people bet on any event but lack regulation
In a statement from Jan Řehola, head of the Czech Gambling Regulatory Research Institute, he clearly pointed out the key difference between legal gambling and prediction markets: in legal gambling, the state clearly knows who is operating, who is participating, which bets are suspicious, and what mechanisms exist to protect players and maintain market integrity; in contrast, prediction markets almost allow bets on virtually any event but lack corresponding regulation.
Řehola specifically highlighted the risks unique to prediction markets: because contract settlement is based on real-world outcomes, this incentivizes traders to influence those events or trade using non-public information—essentially “insider trading” in prediction markets.
Regulatory split in Europe widens: Italy, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic block, while Gibraltar and Malta shift to a regulatory framework
According to reports, there are clear differences in regulatory stances on prediction markets across Europe:
Italy: This month re-added Polymarket to the blocking list.
Netherlands: This month dismissed Polymarket’s appeal.
Czech Republic: Added to the illegal gambling blacklist on July 13, with a 15-day ISP blocking period.
Gibraltar: This week rolled out the world’s first prediction market-specific regulatory framework, separating prediction markets from general gambling laws and issuing licenses to operators.
Malta: Said it is exploring similar regulatory mechanisms.
ESMA: This month issued a warning that event contracts meeting the definition of financial instruments are already prohibited for retail investors under the current binary options rules.
FAQ
Why did the Czech Republic block Polymarket?
According to reports, the Czech Ministry of Finance determined that Polymarket is an unauthorized online gambling platform. Řehola, head of the Gambling Regulatory Research Institute, said that prediction markets allow bets on virtually any event but lack corresponding regulation, creating risks of influencing real-world events and trading using non-public information—essentially a “gambling product that operates outside the rules.”
How long does the ISP have to block Polymarket?
According to reports, after the Czech Ministry of Finance added Polymarket to the unauthorized online games list on July 13, the ISP has 15 days to block access to the Polymarket platform.
What position has Gibraltar taken toward prediction markets?
According to reports, Gibraltar rolled out this week the world’s first regulatory framework dedicated specifically to prediction markets, separating prediction markets from general gambling laws, and issuing licenses to operators so they can serve the market in a regulated environment rather than being banned outright.
