Lithuania Blocks Polymarket Over Unlicensed Gambling

Lithuanian authorities have ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket after determining that the prediction markets platform was offering online gambling services without the required licence.

The decision was taken by Lithuania’s Gambling Supervisory Authority, which operates under the Ministry of Finance. The blocking orders received approval from the Vilnius Regional Administrative Court before being issued.

According to the authority, the measure “has prevented the attempt to bypass illegal remote gambling restrictions” by restricting access to Polymarket through internet service providers.

Polymarket becomes the first prediction markets website to be blocked in Lithuania.

During its investigation, the Gambling Supervisory Authority created and funded an account on Polymarket and used it to place fixed-odds wagers on sports events.

Following the investigation, the authority determined that these activities constituted illegal gambling because Polymarket does not hold a gambling licence in Lithuania.

The Vilnius Regional Administrative Court accepted the authority’s findings and upheld the measures requiring internet service providers to restrict access to the platform.