Ukraine blocks Polymarket, offshore gambling sites in major enforcement action
As the world grapples with prediction markets and how they should be regulated, Ukraine has blocked access to Polymarket as part of a far-reaching crackdown on unlicensed online gambling.
Ukraine’s National Commission for the Regulation of Electronic Communications ordered internet service providers on December 10, 2025, to restrict access to Polymarket under Resolution No. 695, after regulators determined the platform was operating without a valid domestic licence.
The decision followed a request from the country’s gambling regulator — PlayCity — and resulted in polymarket.com being added to Ukraine’s public register of blocked websites.
The move formed part of a broader enforcement action that targeted nearly 200 online gambling and betting websites, many of them operating offshore, which authorities say were accessible to Ukrainian users despite lacking approval under national law. Providers were instructed to implement technical blocking measures at the network level.
Officials have expressed particular concern over Polymarket’s event contracts linked to the war with Russia, arguing that wagers on military and geopolitical outcomes raise ethical and public interest issues.
Founded in 2020 by Shane Coplan, Polymarket allows users to trade outcome-based contracts priced by market sentiment rather than fixed odds, using USDC stablecoins on the Polygon blockchain.
Ukraine’s decision aligns it with more than 30 jurisdictions, including the UK, Germany and Australia, where access to Polymarket is restricted, as governments worldwide intensify scrutiny of the fast-growing prediction market sector.
The geopolitical consequences of Polymarket have been felt by Ukraine, with the website including markets on their war with Russia, and politics in the country. These have ranged from “Will Vladimir Zelesnky wear a suit before July?” to more serious issues surrounding the invasion.
Despite Ukraine having legal sports betting sites and online casinos, many citizens still wager with offshore operators, with these having a better game selection and a greater selection of bonus offers and promotions.
