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Polymarket Faces Ban in France Amid Regulatory Compliance Review

Posted on November 9, 2024 by Laura P.

France’s gambling authority, the Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ), is examining Polymarket, a decentralized cryptocurrency-based prediction platform that has surged in popularity, especially around betting markets tied to the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Amid this growing engagement, the ANJ confirmed it is assessing Polymarket’s compliance with French gambling legislation, with the potential for a nationwide ban if found in violation.

Polymarket, based in New York, operates as a decentralized marketplace where users can bet on real-world events using cryptocurrency. Although the platform restricts access to U.S. residents, users in other regions, including France, have been actively participating. According to Dune Analytics data, Polymarket has attracted over $2.5 billion in wagers, much of it centered on speculation over the U.S. election outcome. One notable French user, a trader using the pseudonym “Fredi9999,” reportedly placed $20 million in bets supporting Donald Trump, with potential profits estimated to reach $50 million if successful.

The Core Issues

The ANJ is focusing on whether Polymarket’s activities breach French laws governing gambling despite the platform’s crypto-based structure. An ANJ spokesperson clarified that even though Polymarket operates via cryptocurrency, it is still considered a betting activity and, therefore, subject to France’s gambling regulations. Legal sources close to the ANJ have stated that the platform’s use of cryptocurrency does not exempt it from the legal definition of gambling, meaning it falls under the authority’s purview.

William O’Rorke, a partner at ORWL Avocats, explained that Polymarket’s model closely resembles traditional betting structures, noting that the essence of the platform is to place money on uncertain outcomes, which legally qualifies it as gambling. He compared it to a sportsbook, highlighting that the ANJ’s regulatory authority enables it to restrict access to Polymarket even if it does not specifically target French users.

If the ANJ ultimately enforces a ban, the decision could set a regulatory precedent in Europe as other jurisdictions confront the growing presence of cryptocurrency-based prediction markets. For Polymarket, a ban in France would signal the significant hurdles decentralized platforms face in operating across diverse regulatory environments and could challenge the platform’s expansion into regulated markets.

Loopholes Emerge Amid the Intricacies of the UK’s Crypto Gaming Restrictions

Posted on February 2, 2024February 1, 2024 by Laura P.

Sky News has recently uncovered a vibrant underground world in the UK’s crypto community, as enthusiasts find loopholes to navigate the complex crypto casino bans. With pre-verified accounts from renowned cryptocurrency havens, like the ethereal Stake.com, people in this underground world can effortlessly immerse themselves in the action of unregulated gambling.

In the face of tightening regulations on cryptocurrency casinos in the UK, clever gamblers there are quietly rising and coming up with new ways to gamble online for big money while disregarding the rules and regulations. A shadowy web has formed, fueled by popular personalities and celebrities, that looks like an underground society where pre-verified accounts are auctioned off as valuable relics.

With the help of open-source technologies, daring gamblers can work around the intricate crypto terrain. When new accounts are created, platforms insist on seeing visual proof as part of their unwavering dedication to regulatory compliance. However, for as little as 8 pounds, buyers often succumb to the allure of pre-verified accounts, which allow them to elegantly avoid these legal obstacles.

Shared on various social media sites, these digital gems reveal orchestrators running complex operations with specialized sales teams and mysterious “middlemen” that covertly arrange safe transactions in exchange for a small cut of the crypto goodies.

Echoes of Concern

Over months, Sky News delved into the mystery behind cryptocurrency gambling and uncovered the significance of Stake.com accounts. A Discord server had over a hundred Stake.com accounts, while Facebook was filled with promotions for nearly two hundred. Crucially, a shroud of mystery envelops these revelations, as there is no evidence implicating the casinos in these covert activities, leaving room for speculation and intrigue.

Regulated casino watchdogs are stepping up their efforts to prevent fraud, but the possibility of player funds getting into the wrong hands is a growing concern. Proponents of strict gambling laws in the UK bring out the issue of addiction, which is made worse by the fact that these crypto gambling havens do not use any restrictions on betting or time.

A heated discussion looms over the UK’s crypto sector as the discrete examination takes shape, with cryptocurrency casinos and social media platforms balancing in a show of accountability. There is a hint of a forthcoming transformation in the world of crypto and the UK might just be at the forefront considering how hard the issues of regulation and consumer safety are knocking on their doors. Perhaps it will be part of what shapes the crypto gambling landscape in 2024.

Strong Start for Potential Tighter Crypto Regulation in 2024

Posted on January 2, 2024December 31, 2023 by Laura P.

Many people are likely to be optimistic about the future of the cryptocurrency sector because of the verdicts of the previous year, the possibility of the approval of a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund, and the overall rise in the market. Nevertheless, it is very improbable that lawmakers and regulators will allocate fewer resources to crypto-related complications too.

This is already playing out, especially in the realm of online gambling and crypto derivatives.

Taiwan’s Elections

The presidential elections in Taiwan will take place on January 13, 2024, and the government has issued a caution against using bitcoin betting sites to speculate on the results. Many locals in Taiwan have been reportedly betting on the next presidential election on the decentralized website Polymarket. Several people have already been called in for questioning, according to reports, which suggest that the investigation is still underway.

It is against the law to engage in gambling activities associated with Taiwanese elections, since it might be a violation of Article 88-1 of the Election and Recall Act. Such an infraction entails a punishment of up to 100,000 New Taiwan dollars (about $3,188) or six months in jail or detention.

An Ongoing Concern

Taiwan’s elections are not the first time that the operator has found itself in the spotlight. Polymarket, in a related matter, ran into regulatory obstacles in the United States in 2022.

The platform was subject to legal action in January 2022 by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a New York-based regulatory agency. Platform operators faced allegations from the CFTC that they ran an “illegal unregistered or non-designated facility” from June 2020 forward.

Despite these regulatory hurdles, Polymarket had robust trading activity throughout the 2020 US election, with a new volume record-breaking $10 million.

What Now?

The cryptocurrency sector is looking forward to a busy and promising year ahead. Market players often face the significant challenge of regulatory compliance when navigating the crypto derivatives landscape, since laws differ greatly by jurisdiction. Can this change?

We may anticipate the SEC to approve its first batch of spot bitcoin ETFs shortly after the new year of 2024, which would encourage large institutional investors to pour millions into the cryptocurrency market. This means word of the approvals might potentially pique the public’s interest in virtual tokens, bringing them out of the financial shadows and into the spotlight. Similarly, in late 2024, the European Union’s (EU) crypto regulatory framework, MiCA, will also eventually be put into action.

Binance On the Spotlight Over Ties to Betting App in India

Posted on August 2, 2021August 2, 2021 by Martin S.

Both crypto and betting have been enjoying massive popularity all around the world. The situation is, however, not as rosy in India. The country has been known for its rather strong stance against gambling and the burgeoning digital currency and blockchain ecosystem. Its government has been trying hard to regulate these sectors. The latest casualty of these efforts is Binance, one of the world’s most popular crypto exchanges and brands.

Recently, the Enforcement Directorate, India’s anti-money laundering agency, began a probe into Binance Holdings Limited. The investigation is meant to ascertain whether the crypto exchange had something to do with betting apps. Its executives are currently being investigated.

No official communication is available on the matter. The Enforcement Directory has not commented and representatives from Binance have denied receiving any summons.

“We have always been a proactive player in fighting crime. We comply with regulator requests all around the world and we don’t comment on any specific engagements.”
Binance’s Spokesperson.

However, sources close to the matter have shared differing information that points to some messy issues. It will certainly take a bit of time before any of these matters get settled. It is thus bound to reach the public domain soon.

What Caused the Problem?

Blockchain, digital currencies, and the businesses related to them are no stranger to controversy. Binance is no exception. The company was incorporated in the Cayman Islands and has no corporate headquarters. This raised some eyebrows and the exchange has been facing scrutiny. Many countries including India have concerns that digital currencies can potentially be used to facilitate money-laundering, drug trade, and even terrorism.

Binance’s woes in India may have emanated from its involvement with betting apps which are also still facing some troubles themselves. The operators of said betting apps used wallets with WazirX to buy, convert and transfer funds on Binance. There should be a straightforward way of dealing with this but that is, unfortunately, not the case.

As it turns out, Binance failed to take responsibility by collecting the necessary know-your-customer documents from clients in most of the transactions. In addition to that, the crypto exchange also reportedly failed to collect information as required by the Finance Action Task Force (FATF), the global anti-money laundering watchdog.

Now, this may blow over without too many implications. Still, it represents a clear need for further action concerning the regulatory framework. India in particular has a long way to go when it comes to warming up to crypto and betting.

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