Romania’s National Office for Gambling (ONJN) has blacklisted Polymarket, a popular blockchain-based prediction platform, citing illegal gambling activity. The regulator stated that the platform was operating without a Romanian gambling license and must be blocked by internet providers across the country.
The move follows a surge in user activity during Romania’s 2025 presidential and local elections, where Polymarket reportedly processed more than $600 million in wagers from Romanian users. One of the most active markets was centered on predicting the next mayor of Bucharest, which saw over $16 million in volume.
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Counterparty Betting and Legal Classification
Polymarket allows users to trade on the outcomes of real-world events using cryptocurrency, a system it refers to as “event trading.” However, the ONJN classified this activity as “counterparty betting,” where individuals wager directly against one another with financial stakes.
According to Romanian gambling law, this model falls under the legal definition of gambling and therefore requires appropriate licensing, regardless of whether the bets are placed using fiat currency or crypto assets. ONJN President Vlad-Cristian Soare clarified in a public statement:
“The decision to include Polymarket on the blacklist is not related to technology, but to the law. Whether bets are made in lei or crypto, the legal nature remains the same.”
Similar Actions in Other Jurisdictions
Romania joins a growing list of countries that have taken regulatory action against Polymarket. In 2022, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) fined the company and restricted its services to American users. Authorities in France, Belgium, Poland, Singapore, and Thailand have also moved to block or limit access to the platform, citing similar concerns around unlicensed gambling.
Despite regulatory challenges, Polymarket has continued to expand. In 2025, it received a $2 billion investment from Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, and is reportedly planning a limited re-entry into the U.S. market.
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Ongoing Developments
Polymarket has not issued a public response to the Romanian ban. The company’s future operations in Europe remain unclear as regulatory pressure continues to grow. For now, Romanian users will be unable to legally access the platform, and the ONJN has stated its intent to prevent what it calls the “transformation of blockchain into a screen for illegal betting”.
