Globe blocks Polymarket after PAGCOR endorsement, with access still patchy on some PLDT lines
Globe Telecom users in the Philippines can no longer access Polymarket after the telco said it implemented a block following an endorsement from PAGCOR, while testing showed the platform remained reachable on some PLDT connections.
The move adds to broader regulatory pressure on prediction markets in the Philippines, where legal experts have said there is currently no clear licensing path for operators offering prediction markets to local users.
Globe confirms network-level block
Globe said the restriction was carried out after PAGCOR’s endorsement, according to reporting on the issue. The effect was immediate for Globe subscribers trying to reach Polymarket, which is a crypto-based prediction market platform.
That kind of network-level blocking is significant because it does not necessarily mean the platform itself has been taken down globally; rather, it means access can vary by internet provider. In this case, that appears to be exactly what happened, as checks found the site still accessible on some PLDT connections.
Regulatory backdrop in the Philippines
PAGCOR has been tightening its stance on online gambling and related digital betting services. In a recent discussion of the country’s “black market,” PAGCOR also pointed to advertising controls and other measures aimed at curbing unauthorized gambling promotion.
Legal commentary has gone further, arguing that prediction markets would likely be treated as gambling under Philippine law and would require PAGCOR licensing to operate legally. That same analysis said there is currently no license category under which a prediction market could be approved in the Philippines.
Why Polymarket is drawing scrutiny
Polymarket allows users to trade on the outcomes of real-world events, a model that has attracted regulators in several jurisdictions. In the Philippines, the issue is especially sensitive because the platform’s structure can resemble wagering, which makes access and licensing questions central to whether it can be offered locally.
The block by Globe suggests at least one major telecom provider has decided the platform should not be reachable on its network for Philippine users. But the fact that the site still appears accessible on some PLDT lines shows enforcement is not yet uniform across carriers.
What happens next
For now, Globe subscribers are the clearest group affected, while users on other networks may still be able to reach the site depending on their provider and routing. The broader question is whether other telecoms will follow Globe’s lead and whether PAGCOR will issue further guidance on prediction markets like Polymarket.
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