Argentina has ordered internet providers to restrict access to Polymarket, viewing it as an unlicensed betting site. A Buenos Aires court ruled that the telecom regulator, ENACOM, must collaborate with internet service providers to block access. Additionally, Google and Apple have been instructed to remove the app from local stores and prevent downloads by Argentine users.
Argentina has moved to block nationwide access to Polymarket, treating the crypto prediction market as an illegal gambling site. On March 15, a Buenos Aires court ordered national telecom regulator ENACOM to work with internet service providers to restrict entry to the platform.
The decision follows a complaint from the Buenos Aires City Lottery and the National Association of State Lotteries. They argued that Polymarket runs betting markets without any local licence and allows users to wager with crypto and cards without proper checks.
What the Court Ordered ISPs and App Stores to Do
The ruling instructs ENACOM to coordinate with internet providers so they block Polymarket’s website and mirrors “throughout the entire territory of the Argentine Republic.” In practice, that means users connecting from Argentine IP addresses should gradually lose access as ISPs implement the block.
The court also ordered Google and Apple to remove or restrict Polymarket’s mobile apps for users located in Argentina. The measure applies even to people who already downloaded the app or registered an account before the ruling.
Prosecutors say Polymarket operates as a hidden online betting system rather than a neutral “prediction market.” They highlighted the lack of identity verification, which they say makes it easy for minors to place bets without oversight.
Why Regulators Targeted Polymarket Now
The crackdown comes after a wave of attention around a market on Argentina’s February inflation figure. According to court filings, odds on that market shifted sharply about 15 minutes before the official data release by the statistics agency INDEC. Authorities say the move raised concerns about possible insider trading using privileged inflation information.
Officials also noted that Polymarket does not hold a gambling licence in any Argentine jurisdiction, based on checks with the national lottery association. Argentina has now become one of the first countries in Latin America to impose a full nationwide block on the platform.
For Argentine users, the order means standard access to Polymarket should fade as ISPs apply the technical blocks and app stores respond. The ruling does not include any customer reimbursement plan, since Polymarket is not a licensed local operator.
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