Polymarket, one of the best-known prediction market platforms and a major beneficiary of the surge in attention around the 2024 US election, has been blocked in Türkiye. Access to the platform — already banned in numerous other countries around the world — was cut off, with authorities citing “illegal gambling” as the reason.
Türkiye has joined the list of countries blocking Polymarket, a platform that had drawn particularly strong interest around the World Cup. According to a report by EngelliWeb, the Directorate General of National Lottery Administration blocked access to the platform on grounds of illegal gambling, under a decision dated July 16, 2026 and numbered 2026/10.
A breakout year in 2024
Founded in 2020 and built around crypto-based transactions, the company was known for a time only within crypto circles. However, the 2024 US presidential election marked a turning point for the platform, as millions of dollars poured into Polymarket. Betting activity expanded well beyond the presidential race to cover everything from sports events to a wide range of other topics.
Major US media outlets — from CNN to Bloomberg, and from CNBC to the Wall Street Journal — began featuring Polymarket’s odds alongside traditional polling in their coverage.
The trend subsequently spread first to Europe and then to Asia. Over time, however, governments grew uneasy with the platform’s popularity and began imposing restrictions.
France also cited “illegal gambling”
Most recently, France blocked the platform two days ago — just 24 hours before the World Cup final. The country’s gambling regulator, ANJ, stated that it considers the platform a gambling site rather than a prediction market.
Besides France, access to the platform is also restricted in a number of other countries, including Germany, Portugal, Czechia, Thailand, Singapore, Russia, and Brazil.
Alongside Polymarket, another platform called Kalshi has likewise been drawing significant global attention. That platform could also potentially face a ban in Türkiye in the near future. Transactions on Polymarket are conducted through USDC.
