Ukraine Blocks Polymarket Over Gambling License and War Bets

Ukraine has blocked access to Polymarket due to its lack of a gambling license, following regulatory decisions. The platform faced criticism for bets on the war and is now listed among prohibited resources, though some users still have access.

Ukrainian authorities have officially restricted access to the prediction platform Polymarket, citing its lack of a required gambling license. The National Commission for the Regulation of Electronic Communications issued the blocking order under decree No. 695, obliging electronic communication providers to limit access to unlicensed gambling sites, including Polymarket. The domain polymarket.com has been added to the public registry of blocked resources, though the implementation is uneven, with some users still able to access the site. The decision followed a two-step regulatory process, with PlayCity first marking Polymarket as non-compliant, and a formal nationwide restriction enacted in December 2025. Polymarket, which allows users to bet on the outcomes of future events, has faced criticism in Ukraine for enabling bets on sensitive topics such as the Russian-Ukrainian war, with over $270 million in Ukraine-related bets completed by the end of 2025. The platform has also been blocked in other countries for similar reasons, highlighting the regulatory challenges faced by decentralized prediction markets.