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Polymarket in Spain (2026) | Blocked — DGOJ ISP Block, Legal Status & Guide

Polymarket is blocked in Spain. On May 26 2026 the DGOJ ordered Spanish ISPs to block Polymarket and Kalshi pending review. This is a temporary country-imposed block (not a Polymarket geoblock). Full breakdown for Spanish users, plus SEPA deposit routes and crypto tax rules.

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Polymarket is blocked in Spain. On May 26 2026, Spain’s gambling regulator — the DGOJ (Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego), under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs — ordered Spanish internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to Polymarket, alongside the US platform Kalshi, while it investigates whether they offered gambling-like products without the required national licences. The block is temporary and pending review, expected to last three to four months.

Importantly, this is a country-imposed block, not a Polymarket geoblock. Spain’s government initiated the action and directed ISPs to cut access. For most visitors this means Polymarket is effectively unreachable from a standard Spanish connection today, with the situation under active review.

Current Status: Blocked (Country-Imposed, Pending Review)

On May 26 2026, the DGOJ opened formal disciplinary proceedings against Polymarket and Kalshi and, as a precautionary measure, ordered Spanish ISPs to block both platforms. Reports from CoinDesk and elsewhere frame the block as pre-emptive while the regulator reviews alleged breaches of Spain’s national gambling law.

The confinement is described as temporary — expected to last three to four months while the disciplinary proceedings run — rather than a definitive or permanent ban. Since the block originated with Spanish government action (the gambling regulator directing ISPs), it is best understood as a country-imposed precautionary block, not a decision by Polymarket to geoblock Spain.

Because Spain is currently under this government-imposed block, a new visitor typically cannot open or start trading on Polymarket from a standard Spanish connection. Anyone with pre-existing exposure should be aware that the government action is aimed at the platforms’ licensing status, and the situation remains under review.

Why Spain Blocked Polymarket

The DGOJ Decision

The DGOJ is Spain’s national gambling regulator, operating under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. It regulates, authorises, supervises and penalises State-wide gambling activities.

On May 26 2026, the DGOJ announced it had blocked Polymarket and Kalshi, arguing that both platforms offered their services in Spain without the proper gambling authorisation. The regulator opened formal sanction (disciplinary) proceedings, with the ISP block applied as a precautionary measure while it investigates whether the platforms’ event contracts amount to unlicensed gambling.

The proceedings were widely reported as expected to last three to four months — meaning a review outcome, not a permanent pre-judged ban.

Spanish Gambling Law

Spain’s online gambling framework is set by Ley 13/2011, de 27 de mayo, de regulación del juego (Law 13/2011, of 27 May, on the regulation of gambling), which establishes that providing gambling services in Spain generally requires authorisation from the DGOJ.

Key points of the framework:

  • Online betting and gaming are legal and regulated in Spain, but only for DGOJ-authorised operators
  • Operating without a licence is the basis for enforcement action, including blocking unlicensed operators from Spanish users
  • Prediction markets / event contracts fall into a disputed area — the DGOJ has taken the view that offering them to Spanish users without authorisation breaches national gambling law

Because Spain is an EU member, the EU’s MiCA regulation also applies to the crypto side of such platforms, but the immediate action against Polymarket was taken by the gambling regulator under Spanish gambling law.

The Crypto Regulatory Landscape

MiCA and the CNMV

Spain applies the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework for crypto-assets. The CNMV (Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores — Spain’s securities market regulator) and the Banco de España supervise the relevant parts, including the conduct of crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) and, for stablecoins, the prudential oversight of e-money institutions.

Under MiCA, crypto businesses serving EU users generally need a CASP licence, and Spain has transitioned to this licensing system. Notably, only a small number of crypto service providers in Spain hold full MiCA authorisation — most major exchanges continue to serve the market under the EU transitional regime. This is relevant context for the crypto rails (buying USDC) rather than the direct cause of the Polymarket block.

CNMV Investor Warnings

The CNMV has actively warned Spanish investors about unregistered crypto firms, including maintaining public lists of unlicensed entities. This reflects broader Spanish caution toward crypto services that operate without proper registration. It does not change the fact that using crypto itself is legal in Spain, and that regulated exchanges with SEPA deposits are fully lawful.

How to Deposit from Spain

While Spain is currently under a country-imposed block, the underlying deposit path for a Spanish user (if and when the platform becomes accessible again) is straightforward and mirrors what EU users everywhere use. Spain’s crypto on-ramp is well-developed, centred on SEPA bank transfers.

Step 1: Buy USDC on a Major Exchange

ExchangeEUR DepositsNotes
BinanceSEPA, cardWidest selection; EU transitional MiCA status
KrakenSEPADeep EUR liquidity, low fees, strong USDC pair
CoinbaseSEPA, cardMiCA-licensed (via Luxembourg); Coinbase Connect works with Polymarket
BitstampSEPA, cardOne of the longest-standing EU exchanges

SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) is the standard, fastest and usually fee-free way to fund your exchange account with euros from a Spanish bank account. SEPA transfers to major exchanges are typically credited within one business day (often faster), which is why this is the recommended deposit rail.

Step 2: Transfer USDC to Polymarket

  1. Go to Deposit on Polymarket
  2. Select Use Crypto and copy your deposit address
  3. Send USDC from your exchange to the Polymarket address
  4. Choose Polygon for the lowest fees ($3 minimum, arrives in seconds)

For the full walkthrough, see our How to Deposit on Polymarket guide. Polymarket converts deposited USDC (or any other supported token) into PUSD, its dollar-pegged stablecoin, on arrival.

Tax Implications

Spain’s tax agency, the AEAT (Agencia Tributaria), treats cryptocurrency gains as savings income, taxed under the personal income tax law (IRPF). There is no dedicated Spanish crypto tax code — standard capital gains rules apply.

Savings Tax Rates

Crypto gains from selling or disposing of assets are taxed at progressive savings rates:

  • 19% on the first portion of gains (roughly up to €6,000)
  • 21% on the next bracket (roughly €6,001–€50,000)
  • 23% to 28% on higher gains
  • A higher top rate applies to very large gains (for example, gains over €300,000 attract a top rate around 30%)

Note: Tax rates can change, and the exact brackets depend on your total savings income for the year. Keep general and check current AEAT guidance for the year you file.

What Counts as a Taxable Event

  • Selling crypto for euros is a taxable disposal
  • Exchanging one crypto for another (e.g., BTC for USDC) is also a disposal in Spain and can trigger capital gains
  • Using crypto to pay for goods or services is treated as a disposal

Reporting Requirements

  • Crypto gains must be declared in your annual income tax return (IRPF) filed with the AEAT
  • Spain also has a wealth tax on assets above certain thresholds (which can apply to crypto holdings of high-value investors)
  • Spain additionally requires an informative declaration of crypto holdings in certain cases (the “Modelo 721” reporting form for overseas-held virtual assets), so keep records of balances and transactions
  • There is no special withholding on foreign-platform trades — you are responsible for self-reporting

Getting Started

Because Spain is currently under a country-imposed, temporary block (the DGOJ’s ISP block pending a review expected to last three to four months), a new visitor generally cannot open trades on Polymarket from a standard Spanish connection today. This is distinct from a permanent ban — the regulator has framed the action as precautionary pending proceedings.

If and when access is restored, the path for a Spanish user would be:

  1. Sign up for Polymarket — under 2 minutes, no KYC required
  2. Buy USDC on Binance, Kraken, Coinbase or Bitstamp via SEPA
  3. Deposit on Polymarket — transfer USDC via Polygon
  4. Place your first trade — start with a small amount
  5. Use limit orders to avoid taker fees — only taker orders pay fees on Polymarket

For now, the most important thing is to watch the DGOJ’s review — the three-to-four-month timeframe runs from late May 2026, so a decision could land in late summer or autumn 2026. The situation is subject to change as the proceedings conclude.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Polymarket available in Spain?
Not currently. On May 26 2026, Spain's gambling regulator, the DGOJ, ordered Spanish internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to Polymarket (and the US competitor Kalshi) while it investigates whether they offered unlicensed gambling products. The block is temporary and pending review, expected to last three to four months.
Why is Polymarket blocked in Spain?
The DGOJ ordered ISPs to block Polymarket over missing gambling licences. Under Spain's Ley 13/2011 (Law 13/2011, of 27 May), operating gambling services in Spain generally requires authorisation from the DGOJ, which sits under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. The regulator opened disciplinary proceedings and applied a precautionary block while it reviews alleged breaches of national gambling law.
Is this a Polymarket geoblock or a government block?
This is a country-imposed block, not a Polymarket geoblock. The action was initiated by the Spanish government's gambling regulator (DGOJ), which ordered Spanish ISPs to cut access. It is framed as a precautionary measure pending a review expected to take three to four months — not a permanent ban.
How would Spanish users deposit if the platform were accessible?
Spanish users would buy USDC on a major exchange like Binance or Kraken using a SEPA bank transfer (free and typically instant for EUR), then send the USDC to their Polymarket deposit address over the Polygon network (list a $3 minimum that arrives in seconds). SEPA and card deposits are the standard local rails.
How is crypto taxed in Spain?
Spain's tax agency (AEAT) treats crypto gains as savings income, taxed under IRPF at progressive rates of roughly 19% to 28% (with a higher top rate on very large gains). There is no special crypto code — standard capital gains rules apply, and crypto profits must be declared in your annual tax return.