A Buenos Aires court ordered the platform offline after determining it operated as an unlicensed gambling service, setting a regulatory precedent for the region.
 

Key Points

Argentina became the first country in Latin America to block access to a prediction market platform

The ruling ordered Google and Apple to remove Polymarket's app from their stores for users in the country
 

Argentina has blocked Polymarket, becoming the first country in Latin America to restrict access to a prediction market platform after authorities classified it as an unlicensed online gambling operation.

A Buenos Aires court ordered the block following a complaint filed by the city’s lottery authority, Lotería de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (LOTBA). The ruling, issued by Court No. 31 under Judge Susana Parada and supported by the Specialized Gambling Prosecutor’s Office, concluded that the platform was operating without authorization in the local market.

The investigation was led by Prosecutor Juan Rozas, with technical support from the Judicial Investigation Unit, after Lotba flagged the platform. The Argentine Association of State Lotteries confirmed that Polymarket holds no license in any jurisdiction in the country, while the Argentine Chamber of Casinos, Bingo Halls and Annexes filed a separate complaint citing the absence of age verification and identity controls.

Authorities determined that Polymarket effectively operates as a gambling service under the structure of a “prediction market,” a format that has gained traction globally. Investigators highlighted that the platform accepts cryptocurrency and credit card payments, requires no identity verification and allows accounts to be created within minutes, enabling minors to access real-money wagering without regulatory safeguards.

To enforce the ruling, the court instructed Argentina’s national communications authority, Enacom, to coordinate blocking measures with internet service providers. Google and Apple were also ordered to remove the platform’s mobile applications from their stores for users located in Argentina, including those with existing accounts.

While the ruling was issued in Buenos Aires, the block is expected to apply nationwide, effectively restricting access to Polymarket across Argentina. However, implementation is likely to be gradual, as enforcement depends on coordination between Enacom, internet service providers and global tech platforms such as Apple and Google, which were ordered to remove the app from their stores.

 

 

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