Romania blacklists Polymarket for unlicensed crypto betting

Romania’s National Office for Gambling (ONJN) has officially added Polymarket, a major blockchain-based prediction market, to its blacklist of unlicensed gambling operators. The decision underscores Romania’s growing vigilance toward crypto-enabled betting platforms and marks a significant regulatory step amid global scrutiny of decentralized finance and blockchain gambling models.

The ONJN’s action, announced in late 2025, comes after months of internal assessment and legal review regarding the nature of Polymarket’s operations. Regulators concluded that the platform’s structure and mechanics fit the definition of gambling under Romanian law, thereby requiring a valid national license to operate within the country.

ONJN’s legal reasoning and classification

According to the ONJN, Polymarket functions as a “counterpart betting” platform, where users place wagers against one another on the outcomes of real-world events — such as elections, sports results, or economic developments. The regulator stated that such activity clearly falls under the scope of Romania’s gambling legislation, irrespective of whether users employ traditional currencies or cryptocurrencies for their wagers.

ONJN President Vlad-Cristian Soare clarified the regulator’s stance by emphasizing that technological innovation does not exempt companies from compliance. “It’s about the law, not the platform’s blockchain foundation,” he said, reinforcing that the core issue lies in adherence to legal standards rather than the underlying technology used to facilitate transactions.

Under Romanian law, any entity offering betting or wagering services — including peer-to-peer or blockchain-based markets — must obtain prior authorization from the ONJN. The regulator’s findings indicate that Polymarket had not acquired such approval before operating within the jurisdiction, thereby making its activities illegal.

How Polymarket operates and why it falls under gambling law

Founded in 2020, Polymarket allows users to trade shares in the outcomes of uncertain future events, effectively speculating on the probability of those outcomes. For example, participants can buy and sell positions predicting whether a political candidate will win an election or whether inflation will rise above a specific level by a certain date.

Although Polymarket markets itself as an “information and event trading” platform, regulators across various jurisdictions — including the United States and now Romania — have increasingly categorized it as a gambling service. The underlying reason is that users place monetary stakes on the occurrence or non-occurrence of uncertain events, and winnings are contingent on the final result.

The ONJN stated that Polymarket’s model mirrors traditional forms of betting in both structure and intent. Moreover, the platform takes commissions on trades, earning revenue directly linked to gambling outcomes. As such, it was determined to meet the legal criteria of gambling under Romanian law.

Internet access restrictions and enforcement

Following the ONJN’s ruling, Romanian internet service providers are now legally required to block access to Polymarket’s website and associated domains. This move aligns with existing national procedures for enforcing gambling laws, which mandate the blocking of online operators found to be in breach of licensing requirements.

The ONJN’s updated blacklist now includes Polymarket alongside a number of other unlicensed international platforms. Access to these sites will be restricted at the network level, effectively preventing Romanian residents from participating in unregulated crypto-based wagering activities.

In practice, internet service providers will receive official directives to implement access restrictions within a defined time frame. Failure to comply with such directives could result in administrative penalties, reflecting the ONJN’s commitment to ensuring that the prohibition is effectively enforced.

Broader implications for crypto gambling in Europe

The blacklisting of Polymarket signals a broader regulatory tightening across Europe regarding crypto and blockchain-based betting activities. While decentralized platforms have gained popularity among users seeking privacy and autonomy, regulators are increasingly emphasizing the need for transparency, consumer protection, and anti-money laundering (AML) compliance.

In Romania’s case, the ONJN’s decision reflects a clear message that all forms of betting and wagering must comply with national gambling law, regardless of the technology facilitating them. This position aligns with similar actions taken by other European authorities, who have begun cracking down on unlicensed operations in the growing intersection between cryptocurrency and online gambling.

Countries such as France, Italy, and Germany have also strengthened their stance on unlicensed digital gambling platforms, particularly those operating outside of established financial oversight systems. The ONJN’s decision is therefore not isolated but forms part of an emerging regulatory consensus within the European Union.

The global spotlight on Polymarket

Polymarket has faced regulatory scrutiny before. In 2022, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) fined the company and required it to cease offering certain binary event contracts deemed to be illegal off-exchange options. That enforcement action marked one of the first significant regulatory interventions against a blockchain-based prediction market.

Despite the penalties, Polymarket continued to operate internationally, adjusting its offerings and marketing itself as a decentralized information exchange rather than a betting site. The platform has also gained popularity during politically sensitive periods, particularly around major elections, when users flock to speculate on potential outcomes. Reports suggest that during recent global elections, Polymarket’s trading volumes exceeded $600 million, illustrating the growing scale and influence of decentralized prediction markets.

Romania’s decision to blacklist Polymarket therefore adds another layer of pressure, highlighting the ongoing challenge regulators face in balancing innovation with the enforcement of existing gambling and financial laws.

ONJN’s focus on protecting consumers

In addition to enforcing compliance, the ONJN emphasized that the move to block Polymarket was motivated by a commitment to protect Romanian consumers from unregulated and potentially risky platforms. Because crypto-based markets often operate across borders and use pseudonymous transactions, users can face heightened risks such as lack of recourse in disputes, financial losses, and exposure to fraudulent schemes.

The ONJN has repeatedly warned that unlicensed platforms provide no guarantee of fair play or payout security. Moreover, the absence of effective responsible gaming mechanisms — such as self-exclusion tools or deposit limits — further exposes users to potential harm. The regulator’s intervention therefore aims to mitigate these risks by ensuring that all operators serving Romanian users meet the same consumer protection standards as domestic license holders.

Industry response and ongoing debate

The decision has sparked discussion within the European iGaming and blockchain sectors. Industry analysts note that while traditional gambling regulators are justified in enforcing licensing requirements, the unique characteristics of decentralized markets raise complex questions about jurisdiction, technology, and enforcement.

Supporters of Polymarket argue that blockchain prediction markets provide valuable insights into public sentiment and real-time information aggregation, functioning more like forecasting tools than gambling platforms. Critics, however, maintain that once monetary stakes and profit motives are involved, such activities inevitably cross into gambling territory.

Legal experts also point out that national regulators are increasingly coordinating across borders to address such issues. The ONJN’s decision could therefore set a precedent for other EU member states seeking to assert authority over decentralized platforms that operate without formal licensing.

Romania’s regulatory environment and next steps

Romania’s gambling framework is among the more developed in Eastern Europe, combining strict licensing rules with a clear regulatory mandate. The ONJN requires all online gambling operators — whether based domestically or abroad — to obtain both Class I (operator) and Class II (service provider) licenses to offer their services to Romanian residents.

The inclusion of Polymarket in the national blacklist is part of the ONJN’s ongoing efforts to strengthen compliance monitoring and ensure that the Romanian gambling market remains transparent and accountable. The regulator continues to collaborate with financial intelligence units and cybersecurity agencies to identify unauthorized operators using cryptocurrency or blockchain-based models.

Future regulatory updates may also address emerging technologies in online betting, including decentralized finance (DeFi) tools, non-fungible token (NFT) wagers, and artificial intelligence–driven prediction systems. Observers expect the ONJN and other European regulators to maintain a proactive approach, ensuring that innovation in iGaming does not outpace consumer protection.

Conclusion

Romania’s decision to blacklist Polymarket marks a defining moment in the ongoing global debate over the legality of blockchain-based prediction markets. The ONJN’s ruling makes clear that gambling laws apply equally to decentralized and traditional betting models. While the move may restrict access to innovative forms of speculation, it also reinforces the importance of compliance, transparency, and consumer safety in an increasingly digital and borderless gambling landscape.

The case of Polymarket underscores a broader regulatory message: regardless of technological sophistication or the currency used, gambling remains a tightly controlled activity subject to national laws. As the industry continues to evolve, regulators, operators, and users alike must navigate the delicate balance between innovation and legal responsibility.

FAQs

What is Polymarket?
Polymarket is a blockchain-based prediction market where users trade shares on the outcomes of future events, effectively betting on real-world results.

Why did Romania blacklist Polymarket?
Romania’s National Office for Gambling determined that Polymarket operates as an unlicensed gambling platform offering counterpart betting in violation of national law.

Does Polymarket hold a Romanian gambling license?
No, Polymarket does not hold a Romanian gambling license, which led the ONJN to order access restrictions on the platform.

Is using Polymarket illegal in Romania?
Yes, Romanian internet providers are required to block access to Polymarket, and users are advised not to engage in unlicensed online betting.

How does ONJN classify crypto-based betting?
ONJN considers crypto and fiat-based betting equally subject to gambling regulations, requiring a license regardless of payment method.

What are the consumer risks of unlicensed gambling sites?
Users risk losing funds, facing unfair play, and having no legal recourse in disputes when using unlicensed platforms.

Did Polymarket face similar action elsewhere?
Yes, in 2022, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission fined Polymarket for offering illegal off-exchange event contracts.

Can blockchain prediction markets operate legally?
They can, but only if they comply with national gambling and financial regulations, including licensing and AML requirements.

How does Romania enforce its gambling laws online?
ONJN orders internet providers to block unlicensed sites and monitors online activity through cooperation with cybersecurity authorities.

What could happen next for Polymarket?
Polymarket may seek compliance or restructure operations to meet regulatory standards in jurisdictions such as Romania and the EU.