Argentina has ordered a nationwide ban on Polymarket, tightening its rules around online betting and crypto-based platforms.
Authorities say the platform was operating outside the country’s legal gambling framework. A court in Buenos Aires approved the move after reviewing complaints from local gaming organisations.
Officials raised concerns about consumer safety. They pointed to the use of crypto payments, credit card deposits, and weak identity checks, which could allow minors to access the platform.
Regulators also said prediction markets like Polymarket blur the line between financial trading and gambling. They concluded the platform was functioning more like an online betting system than a neutral forecasting tool.
The government has asked ENACOM to enforce the ban by working with internet providers to block access across the country.
At the same time, tech giants Google and Apple have been told to remove the app from their stores, making it harder for users in Argentina to download or use the service.
The decision follows complaints from groups including the Buenos Aires City Lottery and the Argentine Chamber of Casinos and Bingos, which pushed regulators to take action.
Argentina is not alone in targeting the platform. Other countries like Colombia and Romania have also banned Polymarket, while regulators in the United States are still reviewing how such platforms should be classified.
The move shows growing global pressure on crypto-based prediction markets, especially as governments try to control risks linked to online betting and digital assets.
