Polymarket sues Dutch gambling regulator, seeks to overturn prediction market ban

Odaily News: Polymarket has filed a lawsuit in a Dutch court seeking to overturn a ban imposed by the Dutch gambling regulator on its prediction market. The company argues that its event contracts are derivatives and should be regulated by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), rather than the Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA).

On January 20, the KSA ordered Polymarket to cease providing services to Dutch users within four weeks or face weekly fines of €420,000, up to a maximum of €840,000. The KSA stated that inspectors had registered an account through a Dutch IP address, topped up €10 using a Dutch bank account, and purchased $1 worth of "Yes" shares in the "Next Dutch Prime Minister" market.

Polymarket said it implemented IP blocking on February 18, but the KSA determined that the measure came one day after the deadline and decided to impose a €420,000 fine. On June 23, the KSA dismissed Polymarket's objection, noting that Dutch law prohibits betting on non-sporting events and that licensed operators are also not permitted to accept cryptocurrency payments. (Bitcoin.com News)