Argentina Bans Polymarket: Court Orders Nationwide Block of Crypto Prediction Market

TLDR:

• Polymarket was handed a nationwide block by a Buenos Aires court directing ENACOM to restrict access on March 16, 2026.
  
• LOTBA filed the complaint that led authorities to classify Polymarket as an unlicensed online gambling service in Argentina.
  
• Polymarket accepted crypto and credit cards with no age or identity verification, raising serious concerns over minor user access.
  
• Argentina joins Colombia as the second Latin American country to fully restrict the Polymarket prediction market platform.

Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction market platform, faces a nationwide ban in Argentina following a court order on March 16, 2026.

Buenos Aires Judge Susana Parada directed ENACOM to restrict access through all internet providers. The ruling also instructs Google and Apple to remove the platform’s mobile apps from the App Store for Argentine users.

The complaint originated from the Buenos Aires City Lottery, making Argentina the second Latin American country to restrict the platform fully.

Court Rules Polymarket Operates as Unlicensed Gambling Service

The Buenos Aires Justice issued the ban following a complaint from the Lottery of the City of Buenos Aires (LOTBA).

The Argentine Chamber of Casinos, Bingos, and Annexes (CASCBA) joined the complaint soon after. Together, they pushed the case through the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Gambling (FEJA).

The Judicial Investigations Corps (CIJ) provided technical assistance during the investigation. Authorities concluded that Polymarket functions as a covert online betting system.

The platform was classified as a “prediction market,” which falls under gambling regulations.

The court found that Polymarket operated in Argentina without any local authorization. It accepted cryptocurrencies and credit cards without requiring identity or age verification. Users could create accounts within minutes, raising concerns among regulators about minors’ access.

Judge Parada stated that these features “significantly increase the risks for users,” pointing directly to the absence of age and identity checks.

The block covers the platform and all its variants, according to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. However, as of 1:05 pm on Monday, the platform remained accessible in Argentina.

Polymarket’s Regional Restrictions and the Broader Debate

Colombia was the first Latin American country to restrict access to Polymarket. Argentina has now followed with a similarly sweeping national ban. This sets a judicial and technical precedent for how predictive platforms may be treated across the region.

The timing of the ban is worth noting. Just before the block, Polymarket drew attention by predicting Argentina’s February inflation data 15 minutes before INDEC published it. That incident added pressure on regulators to act against the platform.

The decision has generated mixed reactions across Argentina. Some observers welcome the move as a step toward protecting vulnerable users from unregulated gambling. Others, meanwhile, warn that it restricts freedom of information and access to global financial tools.

The contrast with the United States is clear. American authorities have moved toward regulating, rather than blocking, prediction market platforms that use cryptocurrencies.

Polymarket grew rapidly during the 2024 U.S. presidential race, gaining attention for giving Donald Trump “55.5% of chances” of winning — a figure that outperformed traditional polls.

The platform’s rise during that election campaign brought it international visibility that regulators in Latin America are now responding to.