Ukraine’s National Commission for the Regulation of Electronic Communications has ordered domestic internet service providers to block Polymarket, stating that the platform’s services are considered illegal gambling under the country’s laws.
Ukraine Blocks Polymarket
According to local media, the measure was enacted under Resolution No. 695 and targets platforms considered to facilitate betting or betting-like activities outside the country’s regulated system. As part of the enforcement, the domain polymarket.com has been included in Ukraine’s public list of blocked internet resources.
Although Polymarket does not provide fixed odds in the way traditional sportsbooks do, regulators said that the difference is mostly technical, an opinion shared by many watchdog organizations in other countries as well. The platform enables users to trade shares tied to specific outcomes, with prices indicating the market’s implied probabilities.
Ukrainian authorities argue that this model still amounts to gambling when offered without approval, particularly when the events in question relate to an ongoing military conflict, such as the war in Ukraine. With this decision, Ukraine becomes one of 33 countries that restrict Polymarkets in their respective jurisdictions. Among these are large EU members like France, Germany, and Italy, but also the United States, where Polymarket is currently trying to return.
The company initially withdrew from the country in 2022 and paid a $1.4 million penalty to resolve Commodity and Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) allegations. However, the platform has been piloting a limited US exchange following its acquisition of QCX LLC and the securing of a designated contract market license last year.
Polymarket Criticized for Offering Bets About Ukraine War
Speaking of the war in Ukraine, Local media reports that public analytics show trading volume tied to events related to the conflict has surpassed $100 million by the end of 2025. Many other prediction markets have also turned the tragic conflict into a cause for betting. Users often bet on the probability of specific events, such as a large missile strike or the launch of an offensive at specific points on the front. This has attracted increased scrutiny from regulators wary of the ethical, legal, and national security ramifications.
Ukraine is not alone in taking action against Polymarket, as in recent years, the platform has encountered restrictions or official warnings in multiple countries amid concerns that its offerings amount to unlicensed betting. Regulators in parts of Europe have also questioned whether outcome-based contracts linked to elections or armed conflicts breach gambling or financial-market regulations and are morally ethical.