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The Netherlands Gambling Authority has taken action against the prediction markets platform Polymarket, instructing its Dutch affiliate, Adventure One, to cease providing wagering services to residents without the necessary permit.
Key Takeaways:
- Dutch regulators have mandated Polymarket’s affiliate to stop operations for offering unauthorized betting to residents.
- Officials stated that prediction market bets are illegal in the Netherlands, even for licensed gambling entities.
- This situation illustrates the broader global regulatory scrutiny on event-based contracts and prediction platforms.
In a notice issued on Tuesday, the regulator indicated that the company must “immediately halt its activities” or face potential fines of up to $990,000.
Authorities noted that the platform enabled users in the Netherlands to place bets that are forbidden under national legislation, including contracts related to local elections, and had not adequately responded to previous requests from regulators to rectify the situation.
Prediction Markets Not Allowed Under Dutch National Gambling Regulations
“Prediction markets are gaining popularity, including in the Netherlands,” remarked Ella Seijsener, the authority’s director of licensing and supervision.
She emphasized that such operators offer wagers that are prohibited in the Dutch market under any circumstances, even for licensed gambling firms.
Earlier this year, the company’s chief legal officer Neal Kumar stated that the firm was willing to engage in discussions with regulators while U.S. federal courts examine issues regarding the oversight of prediction markets.
This dispute reflects broader regulatory tensions surrounding event-based contracts. In the United States, platforms providing similar offerings have faced scrutiny from state authorities, many of which contend that these services resemble sports betting.
Simultaneously, leadership at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has resisted state intervention, asserting federal authority over prediction market activities.
BREAKING: Dutch financial daily FD reports that @Polymarket has been officially banned in the Netherlands
The regulator warns that failure to cease services for Dutch users could result in fines of €420,000–€840,000 per week.https://t.co/gZ7rT04401— PredictFolio (@PredictFolio) February 17, 2026
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This enforcement action coincides with Dutch lawmakers discussing stricter regulations affecting digital assets.
The country’s House of Representatives recently moved forward with a proposal to introduce a 36% capital gains tax on specific investments, a measure anticipated to encompass cryptocurrencies if implemented.
If the Senate endorses the proposal, the tax could be enacted as early as 2028.
Currently, the regulator’s directive places Polymarket’s operations in the Netherlands on hold, underscoring how rapidly expanding prediction markets are intersecting with national gambling regulations across various jurisdictions.
Dutch Indirect Crypto Investments Reach €1.2B
As reported, Dutch exposure to cryptocurrency through financial securities has surged significantly over the past five years, reaching approximately €1.2 billion by October 2025, according to De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB).
This increase primarily reflects rising valuations of major digital assets rather than an influx of new investor capital.
Holdings were around €81 million at the close of 2020, illustrating how valuation gains have broadened crypto-linked investments among households, institutions, and companies.
Despite this increase, direct ownership of cryptocurrencies remains relatively limited for many investors.
Even with the growth, crypto securities account for only about 0.03% of the Netherlands’ overall investment market, indicating that traditional assets continue to dominate investment portfolios.
Last year, Dutch crypto firm Amdax secured €30 million ($35 million) to launch the Amsterdam Bitcoin Treasury Strategy (AMBTS), a dedicated Bitcoin treasury initiative that aims to acquire up to 1% of the total BTC supply, or roughly 210,000 Bitcoin.
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