Romania Prohibits Polymarket, Referencing Gambling Regulations Due to "Event Trading" Allegations
- Romania's ONJN banned Polymarket for operating unlicensed gambling services, citing state monopoly laws and $600M+ in election-related bets. - Regulators classified the platform as a "counterparty betting system," violating player protection, AML rules, and tax obligations. - Belgium, France, and Poland joined enforcement actions, with EU regulators affirming blockchain prediction markets fall under gambling laws. - Despite a $112M CFTC-licensed acquisition in the U.S., Polymarket remains unlicensed in E
Romania's National Office for Gambling (ONJN) has prohibited Polymarket, a blockchain-driven prediction market, from operating in the country due to its lack of a proper license, referencing Romania's exclusive control over gambling, according to
The regulator identified Polymarket as a "counterparty betting system," explaining that users place bets against each other on unpredictable future events, with the platform serving as an intermediary and collecting fees, according to
This action by Romania is in step with wider European efforts to restrict unauthorized prediction markets. Belgium, France, and Poland have already imposed limitations or outright bans on Polymarket, with French regulators launching an investigation after a French participant wagered €30 million on the U.S. presidential election, as reported by iGamingToday. Poland has included the platform in its Illegal Gambling Domains Register, while Belgium's Kansspelcommissie instructed ISPs to block access following repeated breaches of its Gambling Act, according to SBC News. The EU's collective approach highlights that prediction markets, regardless of their blockchain foundation, are subject to gambling laws when users risk money on uncertain results, as iGamingToday also reported.
Polymarket, which recently completed a $112 million purchase of a CFTC-regulated exchange in the United States, has encountered similar regulatory pushback worldwide. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) previously penalized the platform and restricted access for U.S. users, as covered by Next. CEO Shayne Coplan has indicated the company intends to grow "within regulated environments," but it still lacks authorization in all EU and EEA countries, according to SBC News. At present, Romanian residents cannot use the platform, and local internet providers are required to enforce this restriction, as noted in
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
You may also like
Bitcoin Updates: Renewed Institutional Trust and Accommodative Fed Stance Fuel Bitcoin’s Most Promising Bull Run Since 2021
- Institutional flows and dovish Fed policy drive Bitcoin’s strongest bull case since 2021, with $130K–$135K 2026 targets gaining traction. - U.S. Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $202.4M net inflows on October 29, led by Grayscale, Fidelity, and ARK Invest, signaling institutional confidence. - Technical analysis highlights $109K as a critical support level, with $125K retests and accumulation patterns suggesting sustained bullish momentum. - Maturing ETF infrastructure and Fed easing expectations amplify Bitcoin’s
Ethereum News Update: MoonBull’s Ethereum-Secured Protections and Referral Initiative Spark 9,256% ROI Buzz
- MoonBull ($MOBU) targets 9,256% ROI via Ethereum-based presale with $0.00006584 entry price, aiming for 1000x growth by 2025. - Structured 22-stage price escalation (27.40% per stage) and 15% referral rewards drive liquidity and community-driven adoption. - Competes with Solana (SOL) and Ethereum (ETH) by combining DeFi innovation with meme coin virality through Ethereum's security framework. - High volatility risks persist despite safeguards like 60-minute claim delays and 48-hour liquidity locks, urgin
Zcash's Rise in Privacy and the Growth of Decentralized Exchanges Indicate a More Mature Crypto Market Focused on User Empowerment
- Zcash (ZEC) surged 198.92% to $420 by mid-November 2025, driven by increased demand for privacy-focused zero-knowledge proof transactions and a 4.1M token shielded supply via Orchard protocol. - Electric Coin Co. (ECC) unveiled Q4 2025 upgrades including ephemeral addresses, improved hardware wallet support, and P2SH multisig wallets to enhance Zcash's utility and privacy. - Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) processed $1.36T in October 2025, with Hyperliquid leading at $299B, reflecting growing trader prefe
Algo Falls 52.41% Over the Past Year Due to Market Slump and Absence of Key Drivers
- ALGO plummeted 52.41% in 12 months, with 10.26% monthly decline amid prolonged bearish trend. - Lack of on-chain/off-chain catalysts isolates ALGO from biotech/energy news or macroeconomic events. - Technical indicators show sustained downtrend across timeframes, lacking bullish divergences or breakouts. - Backtest hypothesis suggests 10% 30-day drop could trigger short-term reversal with on-chain activity surge.
Trending news
MoreCrypto prices
More
