Dutch Regulator Orders Polymarket to Halt Betting Services

TheNewsCryptoPublicado em 2026-02-21Última atualização em 2026-02-21

Resumo

The Netherlands Gambling Authority has ordered Polymarket's Dutch affiliate, Adventure One, to immediately halt its unlicensed betting services in the country. The platform, which allowed users to place bets on events like local elections, faces potential fines of up to $990,000 for non-compliance. This action highlights the regulatory clash surrounding prediction markets, which offer wagers not permitted under Dutch law, even for licensed operators. The enforcement occurs amid broader debates on digital asset regulations in the Netherlands, including a proposed capital gains tax on cryptocurrencies. This case underscores the ongoing tension between rapidly growing prediction markets and national gambling frameworks across various jurisdictions.

The Netherlands Gambling Authority has ordered its Dutch affiliate, Adventure One, to put a stop to providing betting services to natives without permission, marking a move against prediction markets platform Polymarket.

As per the notice released on February 17, the regulator mentioned that the company must ban its activities quickly or risk penalties of up to $990,000. Officials mentioned that the platform permitted users in the Netherlands to place bets banned under national law, comprising contracts associated with local elections, and had not replied to previous requests from authorities to address the issue.

Ella Seijsener, the director of licensing and supervision of the authority, said that prediction markets are increasing, including in the Netherlands. She also mentioned that such operators offer wagers that aren’t permitted in the Dutch market under any circumstances, even for licensed gambling firms.

At the beginning of this year, the CLO of the company, Neal Kumar, mentioned the company was open to discussions with regulators while US federal courts look for questions over oversight of prediction markets.

The Hold of The Operations

The debate reflects wider regulatory tension around event-based contracts. In the US, platforms providing similar products have drawn investigation from state authorities, many of which claim the services look like sports betting.

Meanwhile, leadership at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has pushed back against state interference, saying it has federal jurisdiction over prediction market activity. The enforcement action also comes as Dutch policymakers debate tighter regulations impacting digital assets.

The House of Representatives of the country has progressed a proposal rolling out a 36% capital gains tax on some investments, a measure anticipated to cover cryptocurrencies if approved.

Currently, the order of the regulator has placed Polymarket’s operations in the Netherlands on hold, underscoring how quickly increasing prediction markets are hitting with national gambling frameworks over various jurisdictions.

Highlighted Crypto News Today:

OFFICIAL TRUMP (TRUMP) Slides to $3: Hold the Line or Head for Deeper Losses?

TagsDutchNetherlandsPolymarket

Perguntas relacionadas

QWhat action did the Netherlands Gambling Authority take against Polymarket's Dutch affiliate?

AThe Netherlands Gambling Authority ordered its Dutch affiliate, Adventure One, to stop providing betting services to Dutch residents without permission.

QWhat potential financial penalty does Polymarket face for non-compliance with the order?

APolymarket faces potential fines of up to $990,000 if it does not quickly ban its activities in the Netherlands.

QAccording to the regulator, what type of bets did Polymarket allow that are prohibited under Dutch law?

AThe platform permitted users to place bets banned under national law, including contracts associated with local elections.

QHow has the regulatory action affected Polymarket's operations in the Netherlands?

AThe order has placed Polymarket's operations in the Netherlands on hold.

QWhat broader regulatory development in the Netherlands is mentioned alongside this enforcement action?

ADutch policymakers are debating tighter regulations impacting digital assets, including a proposal for a 36% capital gains tax on some investments that would cover cryptocurrencies if approved.

Leituras Relacionadas

Interview with Robinhood Executive: Meme + Tokenized US Stocks as "Barbell" Customer Acquisition Strategy, All Business Lines Achieve Hundreds of Millions in Revenue

Interview with Robinhood executive Johann Kerbrat reveals the company's "barbell" customer acquisition strategy for its new Robinhood Chain, combining meme tokens with tokenized stocks. Three weeks after mainnet launch, the chain has seen over $3B in weekly DEX volume and 105M transactions. Kerbrat explains the logic behind the permissionless chain: meme tokens attract DeFi users, while tokenized real-world assets (RWA), currently over 90 US stocks and ETFs accessible in 120+ countries, serve global users. The goal is to bring Robinhood's 27 million funded accounts on-chain by simplifying DeFi with a user-friendly interface, exemplified by features like Robinhood Earn which offers yield without requiring wallet management. Built on Arbitrum's technology stack for its speed, low cost, and Ethereum's security, the chain focuses on financial products like Earn, spot trading, and perpetuals. Kerbrat downplays direct competition with platforms like Base, emphasizing the goal of expanding the overall market for on-chain assets. He details selective partnerships (e.g., Morpho, Lighter) based on compliance, unique UX, and differentiation. While regulatory clarity is pending for US perpetuals, the expansion continues via Bitstamp in Europe. Finally, Kerbrat positions Robinhood as a "super app" integrating stocks, options, crypto, banking, and AI trading, with all major business lines generating hundreds of millions in revenue. For the chain, current priority is driving adoption over maximizing gas fee revenue.

marsbitHá 2h

Interview with Robinhood Executive: Meme + Tokenized US Stocks as "Barbell" Customer Acquisition Strategy, All Business Lines Achieve Hundreds of Millions in Revenue

marsbitHá 2h

Fidelity Q3 Report: BTC, ETH, and SOL Continue to Build Bottoms; How Much Further Will This Crypto Bear Market Go?

Fidelity's Q3 Crypto Signal Report analyzes the current bear market, noting Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL) are in a prolonged bottoming phase. Key indicators like the weighted Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL) have turned negative (-0.01), signaling the market is slightly below its aggregate cost basis, with BTC acting as the primary stabilizing asset. BTC's dominance has risen to 68%, indicating a lack of capital rotation to other digital assets. Performance has been weak across the board, with BTC, ETH, and SOL down significantly year-to-date. Market sentiment is depressed, exacerbated by substantial outflows from spot ETPs and a challenging macro environment. The report compares the current ~203-day downtrend to historical ~300-day bottoming cycles, suggesting the process may be two-thirds complete, with late 2026 as a potential timeframe to monitor. For Bitcoin, NUPL at 0.09 indicates cautious sentiment, while momentum signals remain negative. The Yardstick metric points to potential undervaluation relative to network security (hashrate). Ethereum's NUPL is deep in the "capitulation" zone at -0.43, a historically positive signal for future returns, though its momentum and network fee revenue are negative. Solana shows the deepest NUPL at -0.72 but demonstrates relative resilience in on-chain activity and stablecoin transfer volume. The report concludes that while several metrics are near historical capitulation levels, a definitive market bottom has not yet been established. The path forward likely involves continued consolidation, with BTC's relative strength and fundamental on-chain usage for ETH and SOL providing key areas for investor observation.

marsbitHá 2h

Fidelity Q3 Report: BTC, ETH, and SOL Continue to Build Bottoms; How Much Further Will This Crypto Bear Market Go?

marsbitHá 2h

Trading

Spot
活动图片