# Polymarket lobbies EU to dodge gambling rules

> The prediction market platform is pushing regulators to treat it as a financial service, not gambling, to overturn bans in Spain and France.
- Title: Polymarket lobbies EU to dodge gambling rules · Engadget
- Summary: The prediction market platform is pushing regulators to treat it as a financial service, not gambling, to overturn bans in Spain and France. Polymarket is…
- Keywords: polymarket, prediction markets, european union, gambling regulation, financial services, insider trading, spain, france, esma, fca, technology, lobbies
- Source: Engadget — https://engadget.com/2265021/polymarket-lobbying-eu-regulators-to-not-be-seen-as-gambling-website
- Author: Mariella Moon
- Published: 2026-09-22T10:35:48+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: polymarket, prediction markets, european union, gambling regulation, financial services, insider trading, spain, france, esma, fca, technology
## Polymarket seeks financial services status
The prediction market platform is lobbying EU and UK regulators to classify it as a financial services group, not gambling.
## What Polymarket does
Polymarket lets users bet on real-world events: elections, sports, box office openings and international conflicts.
## The regulatory strategy
Polymarket wants MiFID rules to apply, the EU law governing investment services. This would bypass different national gambling laws.
## Spain and France already blocked it
Spain blocked Polymarket in May while investigating its legality. France ordered internet providers to block access in July.
## Regulators warn of insider trading
ESMA says prediction markets are rife with insider trading. A Google employee, three candidates and a White House staffer were caught trading on inside information.

> rife with insider trading
## Fake winning bets used as ads
Polymarket allegedly paid influencers to post fake betting videos. Half of the winning bets shown would have lost in real life.
## Key takeaway

Polymarket is lobbying European regulators to classify it as a financial services platform rather than gambling, seeking to reverse bans in Spain and France.