ESMA says major prediction platforms lack EU authorization, questions Polymarket and Kalshi’s partial geo-blocks

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ESMA warns that leading prediction‑market platforms operate without EU authorization, highlighting Polymarket’s and Kalshi’s partial geo‑blocking as insufficient compliance measures. The regulator notes that neither service holds a valid licence for offering financial‑type contracts to EU residents, prompting potential enforcement actions that could restrict market access, increase compliance costs, and dampen investor participation across the European crypto‑prediction sector.