Dutch regulators block access to U.S. betting site over illegal gambling

Dutch users are now blocked from using the American platform Polymarket. The move seems to follow a warning from the Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), which had ordered the company to stop operating illegally in the Netherlands.

The Ksa had set a weekly fine of 420,000 euros, with a total maximum of 840,000 euros if the activities are not stopped. which ended on Thursday. From that day onward, Dutch users can only browse the site without participating. “It has made a difference,” said a Ksa spokeswoman.

Polymarket allowed users to place bets on events such as the winner of Amsterdam’s municipal elections, whether Jesus Christ will return by year-end, and a possible U.S. attack on Iran within the week. The platform was operating without a Dutch license for these betting activities.

The spokeswoman explained that Polymarket may still be fined for providing illegal services. There is no word yet on when a decision or further details will be announced.

Polymarket appeared to be aimed at Dutch users, according to the Ksa. The platform was available to users with a Dutch IP address, accepted euro payments through Dutch banks, provided customer support in Dutch, and did not exclude the Netherlands in its terms and conditions.

Dutch users are estimated to have placed over 27 million euros in bets on Polymarket, primarily focusing on markets connected to Dutch political parties and politicians.

Polymarket told the Ksa that it is not a conventional gambling site, but a “prediction market” in which prices are set through trading between users rather than a chance-based game created by the operator. The Ksa dismissed this claim, reaffirming that the platform’s activities are subject to Dutch gambling regulations.

Polymarket has faced regulatory challenges before. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission fined and sanctioned the platform for offering unregistered derivatives, and in countries like France and Belgium, it has been blocked or prohibited from operating without a license.