Argentina ordered a nationwide block on Polymarket after a lottery complaint. Court says prediction market works like illegal online gambling service.
Argentina ordered a nationwide block on crypto prediction platform Polymarket after a court decision on March 16, 2026. Authorities said the platform functioned like illegal online gambling. Therefore, internet providers were asked by regulators to restrict access. The order also ordered Apple and Google to remove the application from users in Argentina.
Argentina Court Orders Full Block on Polymarket Across the Country
The Buenos Aires justice system made the ruling on Monday, March 16, 2026. The ruling ordered an immediate, full block across Argentina. Therefore, the National Communications Entity, ENACOM, must enforce the restriction via internet providers.
Related Reading: Polymarket News: Netherlands Bans Polymarket, Imposes Heavy Penalties on Unlicensed Operations | Live Bitcoin News
In addition, the court ordered Google and Apple to remove Polymarket from Android and iOS stores. This order applies to all users in Argentina, including already registered accounts. As a result, users will not be able to download or update the application.
The block did not, however, start immediately after the order. At 1:05 pm Buenos Aires time, it was still possible to access, according to CriptoNoticias. Moreover, several social media users confirmed that the service was still available for some time after the ruling.
The case began after a complaint by the Buenos Aires City Lottery, known as LOTBA. Furthermore, the Argentine Chamber of Casino Halls and Bingo Halls supported the complaint. After that, the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Gambling opened an investigation against the platform.
Officials said the probe revealed that Polymarket functions as an underground online betting system. According to the report, the service employs prediction markets but behaves like gambling. Therefore, the platform requires official permission to work in Argentina, authorities said.
Authorities Say Platform Broke Gambling Rules and Lacked Controls
The court decision stated that Polymarket lacked local authorization to provide betting services. Because of this, the service broke current gambling regulations in the country. In addition, prosecutors stated the block is for the main site and all related versions.
Officials also reported that the platform included the ability to make payments with cryptocurrencies and credit cards. Moreover, users were able to open accounts in minutes without identity checks. Because of this, regulators expressed concern that minors would not be protected from gambling
Judge Susana Parada said these features elevate risks for users and families. Therefore, the court ruled that a nationwide restriction was necessary to protect the public. Authorities believe stronger control is needed for digital betting platforms.
Argentina has now become the second country in Latin America to completely block Polymarket. Earlier, Colombia had made a similar decision and blocked the service nationwide. Because of these activities, the debate over crypto prediction markets is increasing in the region.
However, the decision sparked mixed reactions amongst users and experts. Some people endorse the block for the protection of young people and the prevention of illegal betting.
Polymarket gained popularity during the election campaign in the US. Following predictions related to Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, many users followed. The platform was noticed when some of its predictions were seen as more accurate than traditional polls.
For now, Argentine users may soon lose full access to the platform once the block is done. Meanwhile, regulators in several countries are studying new rules instead of full bans. Because of this, the future of prediction markets is still uncertain around the world.
The post Polymarket Faces Nationwide Ban in Argentina After Lottery Complaint appeared first on Live Bitcoin News.
