The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has taken action that led to Polymarket ceasing its services in Ireland, following in the footsteps of several other European nations that have already banned the platform. This decision aligns with a similar move made recently in France, where local authorities mandated Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to Polymarket to safeguard consumers and comply with legal requirements.
Effective July 1, 2026, a new gambling law in Ireland requires all operators of remote betting platforms, including those providing prediction markets, to obtain a license from the GRAI in order to operate legally. In light of this, the GRAI has stated that it is investigating several cases of illegal gambling and indicated that Polymarket chose to geoblock access for Irish users following the GRAI's intervention. The authority did not specify which company was involved in its investigations.
A GRAI spokesperson commented, "Following intervention by the GRAI, a major prediction market has geoblocked its service, which means that it has voluntarily restricted access to its platform from Ireland."
Polymarket is facing mounting regulatory pressure from authorities across Europe, including in Germany, Italy, and Spain. Additionally, the platform has encountered legal challenges in the United States from various states, notably Kentucky and Michigan.
