A win that has clearly alerted the authorities. The National Gaming Authority (ANJ) has announced that it has launched an investigation into online betting platform Polymarket, which gained in popularity during theUS presidential election. In particular, the extraordinary gain of $48 million (more than 44 million euros) from a French traderwho had bet $28.6 million on the Donald Trump’s victory.

“We are aware of this site and are currently examining its operation as well as its compliance with French gambling legislation.” an ANJ spokeswoman said on Thursday. According to the specialized media The Big WhalePolymarket’s fate is already sealed, as the platform, which accepts bets in dollars or cryptocurrencies, is soon to be banned in France. To operate in France, an online betting site must obtain authorization from the ANJ. According to Monde Polymarket would not have obtained approval.

Already suspended in the USA

The Polymarket site offers its users a wide range of betting topics. To the question: “Will Donald Trump stop the war in Ukraine in his first 90 days in office?”It’s possible to buy “shares to place on the yes or no side. The odds are moderately high for the yes side, with a 36% chance of the Republican’s success at present, according to a barometer put forward this Thursday evening.

Other questions appear, such as “Will Israel strike an Iranian nuclear facility in 2024?”, “Will Bitcoin hit $250,000 in 2024?” or “Will Taylor Swift be married in 2024?”. Some of the questions have already racked up over $700 million in bets, such as the one asking which team will win next year’s SuperBowl. On November 5 alone, 294 million dollars were registered on the platform.

Headquartered in New York, the site has already been suspended by US regulators, pending a court ruling. Nevertheless, Polymarket has regularly been cited during the American presidential campaign, notably by pro-Trump influencers, according to the New York Post . Americans can actually access it by circumventing the blockage, thanks to a VPN.