Ukraine has officially blocked access to the decentralized prediction market Polymarket, citing the platform’s failure to obtain a valid gambling license.
The ban, effective January 12, was enforced by the National Commission for State Regulation of Electronic Communications (NCEC) following a directive from PlayCity, the state agency overseeing the gambling sector.
The move places polymarket.com on Ukraine’s public registry of prohibited internet resources under Resolution No. 695. Internet service providers across the country have been ordered to restrict access to the site, though local reports indicate enforcement remains uneven during the initial rollout.
‘War Markets’ Controversy
While the official legal basis for the ban is unlicensed gambling, the crackdown follows months of intensifying scrutiny over Polymarket’s hosting of “war markets.”
Ukrainian officials and activists have criticized the platform for allowing users to wager on sensitive military outcomes, including the occupation of specific cities in the Donbas region and potential ceasefire timelines. Data indicates the platform had processed over $270 million in Ukraine-related bets by late 2025.
Tensions peaked in December when the Ukrainian OSINT project DeepState accused Polymarket of using its battlefield data via an unauthorized API to settle speculative wagers.
Ukraine is the latest jurisdiction to move against the Peter Thiel-backed platform.
In recent months, France and Romania have implemented similar blocks, classifying the prediction market as an unauthorized gambling operator.