On Friday, the Dutch authorities ordered Polymarket to shut down its operations in the Netherlands. This is a big step in the crackdown on Polymarket in Europe. According to the order, Polymarket faces a fine of up to €840,000 if it does not comply with the order.
The Kansspelautoriteit, the regulator in the Netherlands, issued the enforcement order to Adventure One QSS Inc., which operates Polymarket.
Regulator Flags Polymarket for Illegal Gambling Operations
According to the regulator, the platform is offering illegal gambling services because it has not obtained a Dutch license to operate in the country. The regulator has warned the prediction exchange before, but the company’s operations remained unaffected.
Authorities set a penalty of €420,000 per week if the prediction platform continues to serve Dutch users. They also noted that total fines could reach €840,000. The regulator further stated that they may impose additional penalties based on revenue in the future.
According to the Ksa, prediction markets fall under the category of gambling and are therefore illegal in the Netherlands. It emphasized that even for legal operators, election betting remains an illegal activity. This is a major reason for the action taken against the prediction platform.
In Portugal, the regulators blocked Polymarket across the country. This followed a rise in activity during the recent presidential election period. Regulators viewed the platform’s action as unlawful gambling. This action follows the recent one taken in the Netherlands.
Also Read: Polymarket Launches 5-Min Bitcoin Markets as Traders Bet on $60K Target
European Countries Expand Actions Against Polymarket
Other European countries have also taken action against the platform. Countries such as Italy, Belgium, and Romania have blocked the platform. France has restricted the betting features on the platform. Hungary has also banned the platform. These actions show a unified trend among regulators.
The founder of Polymarket, Shayne Coplan, has denied the action taken by the regulators. According to the founder, the prediction market serves as a source of information. However, the regulators across the region have declined the claims made. They have therefore taken action against the platform.
Currently, Europe remains the most restricted region for prediction market operators. The action taken in the Netherlands indicates a trend. Regulators have started using financial pressure. The platform remains under scrutiny as the action continues across the region.
Also Read: Kalshi Secures Tennessee Court Win in 2026, Strengthening CFTC Authority Over Prediction Markets