Spain’s Consumer Rights Ministry temporarily blocks access to prediction market platforms Polymarket and Kalshi while it investigates whether they comply with Spanish gambling rules. Multiple outlets report that an order published in Spain’s official state gazette announces the suspension and disciplinary proceedings after the ministry’s gambling watchdog opens a probe into the two US-based companies. The stated concern is that the platforms operate in Spain without the required gambling licence or “necessary administrative authorisation,” which Spain’s authorities describe as a breach of local requirements.
Reporting describes the move as part of a broader European approach to prediction markets, with Spain joining other jurisdictions that treat such services as gambling subject to licensing. The Next Web and others characterise the suspension as temporary, with the investigation expected to take several months. Engadget and related coverage note that regulatory scrutiny of these platforms is expanding internationally, including in Europe, as authorities weigh whether the services fall under gambling legislation.
The sources agree on the core facts: Spain orders a temporary block, cites missing gambling licences/authorisations, and launches an investigation by its gambling regulator.
