Ukraine blocks access to Polymarket over unlicensed gambling concerns
Ukrainian authorities have blocked access to Polymarket, a decentralised prediction market platform, after determining that its services constitute unlicensed gambling activity under national law.
The decision was issued in December 2025 by the National Commission for the Regulation of Electronic Communications, which ordered internet service providers to restrict access to online platforms facilitating wagering without a Ukrainian licence.
The enforcement action was adopted under Resolution No. 695, applying to digital services deemed to enable gambling or gambling-like activity outside Ukraine’s regulated framework.
Platform added to Ukraine’s blocklist
As part of the ruling, polymarket.com has been added to Ukraine’s public registry of blocked internet resources, requiring domestic electronic communications providers to technically limit access for users located in the country.
Regulators classified Polymarket’s outcome-based event contracts as gambling, despite the platform’s structure differing from traditional sportsbooks and its use of cryptocurrency rather than fiat currency.
Local media reports indicate that trading volume linked to events connected to the war in Ukraine exceeded $100 million by the end of 2025, raising ethical, legal, and national security concerns among policymakers.
Wider scrutiny of prediction markets
Ukraine is not the first jurisdiction to act against Polymarket. The platform has faced restrictions or regulatory warnings in several countries, particularly across Europe, where authorities continue to debate whether prediction markets fall under gambling law or financial market regulation.
Regulators have expressed particular concern over contracts tied to elections, armed conflict, and geopolitical events, arguing that such markets may violate domestic laws when offered without local authorisation.
These developments reflect broader uncertainty surrounding prediction markets that operate globally without country-specific licences.
Ongoing US regulatory challenges
Polymarket has also faced regulatory pressure in the United States. In 2022, the platform reached a settlement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, agreeing to restrict access for US users and pay a civil penalty.
The company later began preparing a return to the US market through its QCEX acquisition, with plans for a regulated launch. However, as of early 2026, the platform has not yet opened its US product to the general public, instead operating a waiting list.
Media partnership amid enforcement actions
Despite regulatory headwinds, Polymarket continues to attract commercial interest. Dow Jones recently confirmed an exclusive partnership to feature Polymarket’s live prediction data across media brands including The Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch, and Barron’s.
The partnership comes as enforcement actions intensify. Regulators in Tennessee recently issued cease-and-desist notices to Polymarket, Kalshi, and Crypto.com, citing concerns that their prediction markets amount to unauthorised gambling.
Regulatory outlook remains uncertain
Ukraine’s decision underscores the growing resistance from national regulators toward prediction market platforms operating without local approval.
As governments seek to clarify the boundary between financial trading and gambling, prediction markets face an increasingly fragmented regulatory landscape. Until clearer frameworks emerge, platforms like Polymarket are likely to remain under heightened scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions.
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