Nine European Gambling Authorities Issue Joint Threat Against Unlicensed Prediction Markets

Nine regulators from across Europe have issued a rare joint warning as the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway, targeting prediction market platforms that operate without licenses.

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Authorities from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland signed the statement, stressing that these platforms pose “serious risks of illegality, fund blocking, fraud through insider information, and financial volatility.”  

The regulators said prediction markets have become increasingly popular among young adults and warned that their addictive features are amplified by the lack of safeguards in unlicensed jurisdictions.

European regulators call on leagues and federations to be careful about partnership deals

The joint statement highlights how prediction markets allow users to bet on political, sporting, and even geopolitical events, often with minimal checks. 

Regulators noted that “platforms are open 24 hours a day, there are no built‑in betting limits apart from the amounts staked, no time limits, light identity checks to verify that users are of legal age.” They warned that this combination of accessibility and viral appeal creates “a significant addictive cycle.” 

In the Wednesday statement, the regulators pledged to act against platforms that fail to comply with local rules during the World Cup. They emphasized that their role is to ensure that advertising, betting integrity, and player protection standards are upheld. 

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The statement also urged sports federations, leagues, and teams to check the legality of prediction market partnerships before signing deals. “We will therefore be working closely together on this issue during this period,” the regulators said.

Prediction markets get mixed reactions across Europe

The coordinated move comes after a string of national crackdowns earlier this year. The Netherlands labeled Polymarket illegal gambling, Hungary blocked access to the platform, and Romania blacklisted it amid a surge in election betting. 

Spain’s gambling authority halted operations for both Polymarket and Kalshi last month, citing missing licenses, while Portugal had earlier ordered Polymarket out after its national election. France and the Netherlands have also taken steps to geoblock unlicensed operators. 

But while many countries are tightening restrictions, others are exploring different paths. Malta’s economy minister Silvio Schembri said in March the country was “actively exploring the emerging field of prediction markets, an area experiencing rapid global momentum which presents significant opportunities for innovation.” 

Gibraltar has already moved ahead, licensing its first operator, ADI Predictstreet, which launched at the start of the month and quickly signed on as FIFA’s official prediction market partner for the tournament.

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