Get 125% / $2,500 on 1st deposit!
New players only. Exclusive Welcome Bonus of up to $2,500
Spain has ordered internet providers to block Polymarket and Kalshi while gambling regulators review whether the two prediction market platforms served local users without licenses.
Good to Know
Spanish users trying to reach Polymarket or Kalshi are expected to see warnings that the sites lack gambling authorization. The Ministry of Consumer Rights announced the action, and the notice later appeared in the Official State Gazette.
The case centers on one question: do event contracts belong under gambling law in Spain? The Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego says yes, because users place bets on uncertain future outcomes. That view puts prediction markets under licensing rules before operators can serve Spanish customers.
Regulators said unlicensed platforms miss safeguards required in Spain. Those rules cover identity checks, minor access controls, self-exclusion lists, banned player restrictions and other consumer protection systems.
Officials also said earlier attempts to notify both companies at foreign addresses failed. Publication in the state gazette gave the DGOJ a formal route to proceed.
Polymarket and Kalshi do not offer standard online casino games. Users trade positions on future events, including elections, economic data, global politics and leadership changes. Recent markets included whether Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez would leave office early and which political leaders might exit during the year.
Spain now joins several European markets taking a harder line on prediction market access. France blocked Polymarket in 2024 after finding the product likely clashed with local law. Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Switzerland, Romania, the Netherlands and Poland have also restricted platform access.
However, Europe has no single answer yet. Malta has been studying possible rules for prediction markets, while Gibraltar granted its first prediction market license earlier in 2026. That split leaves operators facing gambling, financial market, securities and commodities questions at the same time.
Prediction markets grew quickly after wider attention during the 2024 US presidential election cycle. Greater volume has now brought more license checks, consumer protection reviews and classification fights across Europe.
Spain expects a final decision within three to four months. Polymarket and Kalshi could seek local licenses, contest the gambling classification, or change their Spanish-facing products.