Dutch regulator shuts down Polymarket over unlicensed betting operations
The Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) has ordered Polymarket to halt its operations in the Netherlands. The regulator found that the prediction market platform was running without the required licence, violating national law. Users in the country could still access the site, deposit euros, and place bets despite the lack of authorisation.
Polymarket allowed Dutch residents to wager on events like the October 2025 parliamentary elections, with over $32 million staked. The regulator confirmed that offering such markets without a licence breaks Dutch gambling rules. As a result, the authority has given the platform four weeks to stop serving Dutch customers or face fines of up to €840,000.
The crackdown on Polymarket is part of a broader push by the Kansspelautoriteit to tackle illegal gambling. The regulator has stepped up enforcement in recent months, targeting unlicensed operators. In another case, it is pursuing a €60,000 penalty against the Path of Natural Energy Foundation for failing to prove its lottery proceeds went to charity.
The authority also emphasised the importance of publicising payment refusals. By doing so, it aims to warn consumers about unreliable lottery and betting providers operating without proper oversight.
Polymarket now has a strict deadline to exit the Dutch market. If it fails to comply, the platform could incur heavy financial penalties. The regulator's actions signal a tougher stance on unlicensed gambling activities across the country.
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