The nine regulators promise to act against prediction market platforms that flout national law

Nine national gambling regulators in Europe have issued a joint statement warning of the dangers posed by prediction markets during the FIFA World Cup.

The gambling regulators say that the expected increase in gambling around the World Cup is being exacerbated by the rising popularity of prediction markets, particularly among young adults.

They argue that prediction markets have several addictive features, with the risk of addiction heightened by the fact that they do not abide by the laws of the countries in which they operate.

The regulators note that the platforms offer round-the-clock accessibility with no safeguards such as time and spend limits or strict age verification.

“The combination of visibility, accessibility and the viral nature inherent to this type of platform creates a significant addictive cycle,” they warn. “As regulators, we have a key role to play in ensuring player protection throughout the tournament and that prediction markets operate in accordance with the licensing and regulatory requirements of a given jurisdiction.”

The regulators emphasised that unlicensed prediction markets “involve serious risks of illegality, fund blocking, fraud through insider trading, and financial volatility”.

“We will therefore be working closely together on this issue during this period; and in doing so we will not only ensure that gambling operators comply with regulations on advertising, betting integrity and player protection, but also act, where necessary, against prediction markets platforms that fail to comply with our local regulations.”

The regulators also said that sports federations, leagues and teams should ensure that prediction market platforms are lawful within their jurisdiction before entering into major partnerships with them.

Gibraltar-licensed ADI Predictstreet is the official prediction market partner of FIFA World Cup 2026.

The joint statement was issued by the national gambling regulators of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.

Spain imposed a temporary block on Kalshi and Polymarket in May while the national gambling regulator investigates the platforms to determine whether their event contracts constitute unlicensed gambling under Spanish law. Other gambling regulators are conducting similar investigations.