Ireland's Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRAI) has taken steps that led to Polymarket ceasing its operations in the country, adding Ireland to the growing list of European nations banning the platform. This development follows a similar action in France, where local authorities mandated Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to Polymarket in an effort to protect consumers and adhere to legal regulations.
As per new gambling legislation that will take effect in Ireland on July 1, 2026, all remote betting operators, including those running prediction market platforms, are required to obtain a license from GRAI in order to operate legally. The authority has also confirmed that it is investigating several instances of illegal gambling, and in light of GRAI's intervention, Polymarket has opted to geoblock users in Ireland.
A spokesperson for the GRAI stated, 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. The platform is facing mounting regulatory challenges in several European countries, including Germany, Italy, and Spain, in addition to dealing with legal struggles in the United States, particularly in states like Kentucky and Michigan.
