The Australian media watchdog has moved to block access to the blockchain-based prediction market Polymarket, after finding the platform was operating in breach of the country’s gambling laws. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) said the company was offering services to Australians without the necessary licence, a violation of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
On 13 August 2025, ACMA formally directed internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to the site. The watchdog alleged that Polymarket allowed users to wager on the outcome of global and political events using digital currencies such as USD stablecoins. Even during the 2025 Australian federal election campaign, the platform actively promoted markets linked to both Australian and United States politics, paying social media influencers to encourage users to place bets.
Big action after Crikey report
Following a revelation by Crikey in April 2025 that revealed Polymarket’s activities in Australia despite its lack of approval, ACMA’s inquiry became more exhaustive. According to the news report, the US-based business paid Instagram and TikTok influencers to advertise its federal election betting markets.
Several social media accounts were found to be publishing paid content that explicitly targeted Australian viewers by endorsing Polymarket’s odds and tagging its account. As a result, the platform was included in the national list of websites prohibited from gambling, following ACMA’s actions in response to these revelations.
“Australians who gamble on illegal sites risk losing their money,”
-ACMA
Australia’s decision brings it into line with a number of other nations that have already banned Polymarket, including Singapore, France, Switzerland, and Belgium. ACMA has also recently moved against a series of other gambling platforms such as Slot Mafia, Top Aussie Pokies and Spinaga, bringing the total number of illegal sites blocked in Australia to almost 1,300. Officials said website blocking was only one of several enforcement options used to shield consumers from the risks of unlicenced platforms.
The regulator has urged users to ensure that any service they use is properly licenced. “Even if a service looks legitimate, it probably lacks the essential consumer protections you deserve,” ACMA said in a statement. The agency also reminded players that they risk losing their money if they engage with illegal operators.
Legal woes deepen for Polymarket
Polymarket’s difficulties are not confined to Australia. In the United States, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Department of Justice investigated the platform over allegations it had accepted bets from American residents. Both inquiries concluded last month without charges being filed. However, the company had previously been fined $1.4 million (€1.03 million) for not registering properly when offering event-based binary options.
Industry analysts warn that tougher regulatory restrictions, combined with new tax measures, could have broader implications for the gambling market. Polymarket is now blocked in Australia, but the cryptocurrency community is keeping a close eye on developments, awaiting possible appeals or changes in regulatory approaches.
In a related matter, the CFTC recently dropped an appeal, allowing Kalshi, another blockchain-based prediction market, to resume election betting in the United States. Observers believe this decision indicates that global regulatory attitude towards blockchain-based betting is still shifting.
But for now, with ACMA’s intervention, Polymarket joins the long list of platforms barred from Australia’s digital market. The watchdog maintains that ongoing vigilance is required as the use of blockchain technology and digital currencies grows.
