The Dutch playing regulator, Kansspelautoriteit, has ordered Polymarket to cease providing its companies within the Netherlands, concluding the platform operates unlicensed video games of likelihood below Dutch legislation.
In a public determination dated January 20, 2026, the authority discovered that Journey One QSS Inc., recognized because the operator of polymarket.com, allowed Dutch customers to register, deposit funds and place wagers with out holding a neighborhood playing license nether.
Regulators confirmed from a Dutch IP deal with that customers may create accounts, deposit €10 by way of a Dutch financial institution through Mastercard and place bets on political markets, together with outcomes tied to Dutch elections.
The Kansspelautoriteit decided that the platform violates Article 1(1)(a) of the Dutch Playing Act, which prohibits providing video games of likelihood with no license. Polymarket has 4 weeks to stop entry from the Netherlands or face penalties of €420,000 per week, capped at €840,000.
The regulator rejected Polymarket’s argument that its merchandise perform as monetary prediction markets fairly than playing. It stated payouts rely on unsure exterior occasions past members’ management, assembly the statutory definition of a recreation of likelihood.
Polymarket and comparable platforms have confronted scrutiny or enforcement in US states, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Singapore, Portugal, Hungary, Thailand and now the Netherlands.
