The Strategist

Polymarket seeks recognition as a financial corporation in Europe



09/25/2026 - 03:15



Polymarket, a prediction market platform located in the US, has initiated a lobbying effort in Europe and the UK, according to the Financial Times (FT). As reported by the newspaper, the firm intends to operate under regulations designed for financial institutions instead of those meant for gambling companies.



1924848uejdjfik via Wikimedia Commons
1924848uejdjfik via Wikimedia Commons
Polymarket, which has become popular in the US, enables users to wager on a variety of events—from sports matches and election outcomes to central bank actions and Academy Award winners.

The report states that Polymarket is conducting discussions with regulators in London, Brussels, and various other European capitals. The company contends that its agreements ought to be categorized as financial derivatives instead of wagers, and should thus be overseen by comprehensive EU financial market legislation rather than separate gambling laws from various countries.

Nonetheless, as the FT states, European officials are still doubtful. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has cautioned that prediction markets are "full of insider trading," whereas the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) considers these contracts to be speculative and similar to gambling.

source: ft.com