The invention relates to the use of polymers which contain between 1 and 99 mol-% structural units of formula 1, ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 represents hydrogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl, R.sup.2 represents C.sub.1-C.sub.24-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.24-alkylene or a C.sub.6-C.sub.18-aryl radical, which can be substituted with a C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl group, A represents identical or different C.sub.2-C.sub.4 alkylene radicals and, x, represents whole number from 2-40 in quantities from 0.01-2 wt-%, in quantities from 0.01 to 2 wt-%, in relation to the aqueous phase. The polymers can be used as gas hydrate inhibitors.