Argentina blocks access to Polymarket after early bets on February inflation

Authorities in Argentina have ordered a nationwide block on the prediction market platform Polymarket following a ruling by Buenos Aires Judge Susana Parada on March 16, reporting from Clarín indicates.

Argentina’s ENACOM, which oversees telecoms, broadcasting, internet, radio, and postal services, is tasked with implementing the national measure through ISPs and app stores, preventing access to the platform on both Android and iOS.

The decision follows Polymarket’s accurate prediction of February inflation data ahead of INDEC’s publication, which has drawn scrutiny from authorities and journalists.

Data analysis highlighted small but unusually timed wagers from accounts that normally trade minimal amounts, raising suspicions of insider activity.

According to Clarín, complaints from LOTBA (Buenos Aires City’s lottery authority) and CASCBA (the national gambling industry association), supported by investigations by FEJA (the city’s gambling prosecutor) and CIJ (the technical investigative branch of the Public Prosecutor’s Office), found that the platform operated as an unauthorized online betting system.

The court highlighted that Polymarket allowed easy account creation, accepted crypto assets and credit cards, and lacked age verification, increasing risks for minors.

While some praise the move as protecting users, critics warn it may limit access to global prediction tools, making Argentina the second Latin American country to impose a full ban.

Colombia became the first country in Latin America to ban Polymarket after its gambling regulator, Coljuegos, declared the platform illegal to operate without a license in September 2025 and instructed ISPs to block access.