Argentina Enforces Nationwide Block on Polymarket Amid Gambling and Consumer Protection Concerns

Argentina has moved to impose a nationwide ban on the prediction market platform Polymarket, citing the company’s lack of local authorization and raising concerns tied to gambling risks and consumer safeguards.

The decision places Argentina among a growing number of jurisdictions that are classifying such platforms as unlicensed gambling services rather than purely financial or informational tools.

The ruling mandates that internet service providers across the country block access to Polymarket’s website and associated domains. In addition, major tech companies Apple and Google have been instructed to remove or limit access to the platform’s mobile applications for users within Argentina. Enforcement of these measures is being coordinated by ENACOM, the national communications authority.

This development follows a court decision in Buenos Aires, where judges concluded that Polymarket had been operating without proper local licensing while exposing users to risks typically associated with gambling products. Authorities emphasized that despite the platform’s positioning as a prediction market, it effectively enables users to wager money on binary outcomes tied to real-world events such as political developments, inflation figures, and global conflicts.

The legal action was initiated by the City of Buenos Aires Lottery, LOTBA, and supported by the Argentine casino industry association CASCBA. Prosecutors argued that the platform’s structure closely resembles traditional betting mechanisms, particularly given its use of financial stakes on uncertain outcomes.

Regulators also scrutinized the platform’s onboarding and payment systems. According to the case, Polymarket allowed users to fund accounts cryptoassets and credit cards while allegedly lacking robust identity verification and age-control mechanisms. Officials highlighted that accounts could be created within minutes, raising concerns about access by minors and other vulnerable individuals.

The investigation gained additional attention after unusual activity on Polymarket appeared to anticipate Argentina’s February inflation data before its official release by INDEC. A noticeable market shift ahead of the announcement prompted speculation about the potential use of privileged information. However, authorities ultimately centered their enforcement on the platform’s regulatory status and consumer protection shortcomings rather than the inflation-related incident itself.

Argentina’s actions align with a broader international trend of tightening oversight on platforms operating in the gray area between financial speculation and gambling.

Polymarket already restricts or blocks users in over 30 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Australia, and Poland. In some regions, enforcement has escalated further. For example, Ukraine has previously ordered internet providers to block the platform entirely, stating there was no legal framework under which it could operate.

For the wider iGaming sector, the case underscores a regulatory shift that prioritizes substance over branding. Authorities are increasingly unwilling to accept labels like “prediction market” when the underlying mechanics mirror gambling. Moreover, enforcement strategies are expanding beyond operators themselves to include intermediaries such as internet providers, app stores, and payment channels—an approach that is rapidly becoming standard in regulated markets worldwide.

By fLEXI tEAM