A major crackdown by Australia’s media regulator has taken down Polymarket from the nation’s internet space.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket, a cryptocurrency prediction market, after an investigation concluded the platform breached the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. This move follows reports that Polymarket paid TikTok influencers to promote illegal election betting targeting the 2025 federal election.
Polymarket is no stranger to legal trouble, having been banned in multiple jurisdictions, including the US, France, Belgium, and Switzerland. The ban adds to its mounting regulatory woes, including a past $1.4 million settlement with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
This latest action is part of ACMA’s ongoing campaign, which has blocked nearly 1,300 illegal gambling and affiliate websites since 2019, and pushed 220 illegal operators to leave the Australian market.
