Dutch Regulator Orders Polymarket to Halt Unlicensed Betting Operations

2026-02-21 09:58:40

The Netherlands Gambling Authority has moved against prediction markets platform Polymarket, ordering its Dutch affiliate, Adventure One, to stop offering wagering services to residents without a permit.

Key Takeaways:

Dutch regulators ordered Polymarket’s affiliate to halt operations for offering unlicensed betting to residents.
Authorities said prediction market wagers are illegal in the Netherlands, even for licensed gambling operators.
The case reflects wider global regulatory pressure on event-based contracts and prediction platforms.

In a notice released Tuesday, the regulator said the company must “cease its activities immediately” or risk penalties of up to $990,000.

Officials said the platform allowed users in the Netherlands to place bets prohibited under national law, including contracts tied to local elections, and had failed to respond to earlier requests from authorities to address the issue.

Prediction Markets Not Permitted Under Dutch National Gambling Rules

“Prediction markets are on the rise, including in the Netherlands,” said Ella Seijsener, the authority’s director of licensing and supervision.

She added that such operators provide wagers that are not allowed in the Dutch market under any circumstances, even for licensed gambling companies.

Earlier this year, the company’s chief legal officer Neal Kumar said the firm was open to discussions with regulators while US federal courts consider questions over oversight of prediction markets.

The dispute mirrors broader regulatory tension around event-based contracts. In the United States, platforms offering similar products have drawn scrutiny from state authorities, many of which argue the services resemble sports betting.

At the same time, leadership at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has pushed back against state intervention, asserting federal jurisdiction over prediction market activity.

The enforcement action also comes as Dutch lawmakers debate tighter rules affecting digital assets.

The country’s House of Representatives recently advanced a proposal introducing a 36% capital gains tax on certain investments, a measure expected to cover cryptocurrencies if enacted.

Should the Senate approve the plan, the tax could take effect as early as 2028.

For now, the regulator’s order places Polymarket’s operations in the Netherlands on hold, highlighting how rapidly growing prediction markets are colliding with national gambling frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.

Dutch Indirect Crypto Investments Hit €1.2B

As reported, Dutch exposure to cryptocurrency through financial securities has grown rapidly over the past five years, reaching about €1.2 billion by October 2025, according to De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB).

The increase largely reflects rising prices of major digital assets rather than a surge of new investor money.

Holdings stood at roughly €81 million at the end of 2020, showing how valuation gains have expanded crypto-linked investments across households, institutions and companies.

Despite the jump, direct ownership of cryptocurrencies remains relatively limited for many investors.

Even with the growth, crypto securities represent only about 0.03% of the Netherlands’ overall investment market, indicating traditional assets still dominate portfolios.

Last year, Dutch crypto firm Amdax raised €30 million ($35 million) to launch Amsterdam Bitcoin Treasury Strategy (AMBTS), a dedicated Bitcoin treasury company that plans to accumulate up to 1% of the total BTC supply, or roughly 210,000 Bitcoin.

Trending News RecommendedPopular Crypto TopicsPrice Predictions

China’s DeepSeek AI Predicts the Price of XRP, PEPE and Shiba Inu By the End of 2026
New ChatGPT Predicts the Price of XRP, Dogecoin and Solana By the End of 2026
China’s Alibaba AI Predicts the Price of XRP, Shiba Inu and PEPE By the End of 2026
Bitcoin Price Prediction: Bitcoin Is Stuck Inside a Triangle – And What Happens Next Could Shock the Market
XRP Price Prediction: Ripple Has Been Invited to the White House — Is the US Government About to Back XRP?

Industry Talk

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Abu Dhabi Gov Funds Buy $1 Billion in BTC – What Do They Know?

2026-02-18 22:51:00, by Ahmed Balaha

Bitcoin News

Bitcoin Price Prediction: 12-Year Trend Shattered Has Broken – Is “Quantum Computing” Secretly Killing Bitcoin?

2026-02-17 20:11:20, by Ahmed Balaha

Industry Talk

Crypto Price Prediction Today 18 February – XRP, Bitcoin, Ethereum

2026-02-18 22:35:00, by Tim Hakki

Best Crypto to Buy Now in February 2026 – Top Crypto to Invest In

2026-02-04 14:48:18, by Alan Draper

New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in Today – Top New Crypto Coins

2026-02-20 15:21:38, by Ines S. Tavares

9 Best Crypto Presales in February 2026

2026-02-16 07:48:39, by Alan Draper

8 New & Upcoming Coinbase Listings in February 2026

2026-02-09 09:19:00, by Ilija Rankovic

10 New & Upcoming Binance Listings in 2026

2026-02-09 12:11:58, by Ilija Rankovic

What Is the Next Crypto to Explode in 2026? Our Top Picks

2026-02-20 14:26:27, by Ilija Rankovic

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Prediction 2026, 2027 – 2030

2026-02-21 07:30:00, by Leon Waters

XRP (XRP) Price Prediction 2026, 2027 – 2030

2026-02-21 07:30:00, by Ihssan El Medkouri

Ethereum Price Prediction 2026, 2027 – 2030

2026-02-21 07:30:00, by Alan Draper

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.