Ukrainian authorities have blocked access to the Polymarket platform, citing its lack of a license required for activities classified as gambling under national law.
The restrictions were implemented by the National Commission for State Regulation of Electronic Communications (NCEC) under Resolution No. 695, making the decision binding across the entire country.
The state body PlayCity, responsible for overseeing gambling and betting, including online platforms, presented its findings back in November. The agency monitors operators’ compliance with licensing rules and consumer protection standards. According to their analysis, Polymarket did not meet these requirements.
The review materials were then forwarded to the National Commission for the Development of the Economy. In December, the commission confirmed PlayCity’s conclusions and officially imposed restrictions, effectively halting Polymarket’s operations in Ukraine.
Bets on the Russia–Ukraine conflict were cited as one of the factors influencing the ban
In 2025, Polymarket faced criticism from Ukrainian authorities and the public for allowing bets related to military events, including forecasts on the potential occupation of cities in Donbas. Reports indicate that in November alone, 97 such bets were placed, totaling approximately $97 million.
It was also reported that the platform used data from the Ukrainian OSINT project DeepState without consent, linking it to wagers on the occupation of Ukrainian territory. Later, the Institute for the Study of War faced criticism when updates to its Ukraine map were used as the basis for Polymarket bets.
By December, the platform had closed around 240 Ukraine-related markets with a total volume exceeding $270 million, while approximately 120 active bets amounted to over $140 million. Dozens of similar markets remain accessible to this day.
Under Ukrainian law, electronic communications providers are authorized to block online resources offering gambling services without the proper license. The Polymarket domain has been added to the public registry of restricted sites.
Prediction Markets Continue to Face Restrictions Worldwide
Measures against prediction betting platforms are being taken in multiple countries. In Tennessee, regulators ordered Polymarket, Kalshi, and Crypto.com to halt sports event contracts.
On January 9, the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council sent letters instructing the companies to cease operations in the state, cancel open contracts, and return deposits by the end of the month.
The council warned that failure to comply could result in criminal charges for promoting gambling on a large scale—a felony under state law—as well as civil fines of up to $25,000 per violation.
Belgium, France, Thailand, Singapore, and Poland have also restricted access to Polymarket, citing similar concerns about unlicensed activity.
In Romania, the platform was added to the blacklist in November due to bets on presidential and local elections totaling over $600 million. Authorities stated that the service effectively operates as an unlicensed gambling product, allowing users to bet against each other on future events, which falls under national gambling regulations.
Despite bans in several countries, the platform continues to operate in jurisdictions without restrictions, including the United States, where it recently received approval to operate legally.
Don’t forget to subscribe to our Telegram channel!
