Romanian Regulator Blacklists Polymarket as 'Gambling That Must Be Licensed'

Romania's gambling regulator, the National Office for Gambling (ONJN), has blacklisted Polymarket for conducting gambling activities without a license within the country. The ONJN emphasized that while Polymarket is often seen as an 'event trading platform,' it qualifies as counterparty betting, where users wager on outcomes of future events. This designation holds significance, particularly due to the increasing betting volumes surrounding Romanian elections, which have exceeded millions of dollars. Vlad-Cristian Soare, ONJN's president, stated that allowing such platforms to market themselves as 'trading' could set a dangerous precedent, resulting in potential regulatory circumventions. The regulator is committed to preventing the use of blockchain technology to facilitate illegal betting operations. This decision follows scrutiny of Polymarket in other regions, including a prior investigation in France regarding gambling compliance.

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