Polymarket, the largest prediction market in the world, has been blacklisted by the Romanian authorities. The National Gambling Office (ONJN) added the platform to the blacklist of unauthorized gambling sites, according to an official statement.
Romanian authorities have included Polymarket on the blacklist
In an official press release published on October 30 by the National Gaming Office (ONJN), it was announced that the authority has added the platform to the blacklist of unauthorized gambling sites. The Romanian authority decided to include the platform on the list of operators that carry out gambling activities without a license in the country during the meeting on October 29. The decision came following the increase in activity on the platform during the 2024 Romanian elections and the intensification of activities during the Bucharest mayoral elections.
Activity on Polymarket increased during the election
The official release revealed that, according to public data available on Polymarket, during the presidential elections the total volume of transactions exceeded 600 million dollars, and for the local elections in Bucharest, the volume had already exceeded 15 million dollars. At the time of writing, the volume is over $17 million, according to official Polymarket data.
Bucharest mayoral elections – Polymarket data The anticipated local elections for a new mayor of Bucharest will take place on December 7, 2025. The release also emphasized that the term «transacted volume» does not represent the amount bet in a single instance; is the cumulative value of transactions between users who bet and exchange financial positions based on the outcome of future events.
A high level of unregulated betting activity
The official document pointed out that these figures reflect an increased level of unregulated betting activities, which take place outside any fiscal, technical or integrity control. This leads to circumventing the legal obligations imposed on licensed operators, including those related to the protection of players, reporting to the National Office for the Prevention and Combating of Money Laundering and payment of taxes and contributions to the Romanian budget. Romania classifies Polymarket as a «counterparty betting platform», despite the fact that the platform is often described as a prediction market or an event trading platform: There is a stake involved, and users risk money in the hope of a profit. There is a future, random event that determines the outcome. There is a counterparty involved, other users outside the platform itself. The platform only mediates and charges a commission, without guaranteeing quotas. Users are encouraged to place bets. The platform does not mediate investments, but organizes bets between participants. All these factors confirm that the platform is a «crypto betting site», according to the statement which emphasized that the only difference is the technological implementation, not the legal nature of the activity. Polymarket operated in Romania without a license or supervision, operating outside the legal framework.
Gambling is a state monopoly in Romania
The authority stated that, in Romania, gambling is a state monopoly and can only be organized by licensed and authorized operators. Allowing Polymarket to operate as a «trading platform» instead of being considered a peer-to-peer betting platform would set a precedent that would allow any operator to reinterpret betting activity as market trading activity.
Gambling activities in Romania
In Romania, participating in unauthorized games of chance and promoting such activities constitutes a crime, according to the Government's Emergency Ordinance no. 77/2009. Any form of online gambling must be: Licensed Supervised Accessing and promoting unauthorized platforms expose users and the country to significant risks. The ONJN decision and the updated blacklist will be sent to internet service providers to block access to the platform by Romanian users.
«It's not about the technology, it's about the law»
ONJN President Vlad-Cristian Soare officially stated that the decision to include Polymarket on the blacklist «is not about technology, but about the law». He pointed out that regardless of whether users bet in RON or in crypto, if you bet money on a future outcome in a bet between counterparties, this is a form of gambling and must be licensed. ONJN also emphasized that it will not allow blockchain technology to become a cover for illegal betting.
Polymarket, already banned in the US and other locations
The official statement pointed out that Polymarket had already been banned in the US after the CFTC ruled that its activity constituted unauthorized derivatives trading, and similar blocking measures had been taken in Belgium, France, Poland and Asia. The fact that the Romanian authority has stated that it aims to protect blockchain technology and not allow illegal activities under its umbrella could be a positive sign for the industry in the country. Romania is one of the most important countries in the region in terms of adopting blockchain and crypto technologies, and a more secure environment will translate into increased investment. Join our 33,000+ subscribers. No spam, just useful info.