Is Polymarket legal where you live?
In the US, Polymarket is legal through Polymarket US, a CFTC-regulated exchange. The international platform restricts new trades in more than 40 countries and regions, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Australia.
Quick facts · verified 20 October 2026
- How many countries restrict Polymarket?
- Polymarket's own geoblock list restricts 40 countries (checked 20 October 2026); national regulators in 25 tracked countries have blocked or banned it. See the ban tracker.
- Is Polymarket legal in the US?
- Yes, through Polymarket US, a CFTC-regulated exchange that requires full identity verification. The international site is close-only (no new positions) for US users.
United States
Polymarket left the US in 2022 after a CFTC settlement. It returned in late 2025 by acquiring a CFTC-licensed exchange, launched the Polymarket US app in December 2025 and opened it without a waitlist on iPhone in May 2026. Polymarket US requires full identity verification. The international site stays closed to US users.
Some states dispute federal authority over prediction markets, and lawsuits were ongoing in 2026, so availability can vary by state.
Where Polymarket restricts trading
Polymarket publishes three levels of restriction:
| Status | What it means | Countries (examples) |
|---|---|---|
| Fully blocked | No trading at all | Iran, Syria, Cuba, North Korea, occupied regions of Ukraine |
| Close-only | You can close existing positions but cannot open new ones | United States (international site), United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia, Russia, Belarus, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Brazil, four Canadian provinces and others |
| Close-only on the website | New positions can't be opened through polymarket.com | Netherlands, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Malta (sports only) |
See the full list and local details on our country pages, or use the country checker.
National regulators add their own restrictions on top. France's gambling regulator ordered internet providers to block Polymarket in July 2026, and Switzerland, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Singapore and others have restricted it too. Nine European regulators announced a joint push against unlicensed prediction markets in 2026.
Do not bypass blocks. Using a VPN or a third-party service to reach Polymarket from a blocked country breaks its terms of service, can get your account and funds frozen, and may be illegal locally. If your country is blocked, the right answer is to not use it.
How to check your own status
- Open polymarket.com without a VPN. Restricted users see a notice and cannot place orders.
- Some countries are “close-only”: you can close existing positions but not open new ones.
- Check your national gambling or financial regulator for its current position.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules change quickly; verify before you sign up.
Ready to try it? Check it is available where you live, then open Polymarket.
Open PolymarketFrequently asked questions
Is Polymarket legal in the UK?
No. The United Kingdom is close-only: UK users cannot open new positions.
Is Polymarket legal in the Netherlands?
No. Polymarket lists the Netherlands as close-only on its website, so new positions cannot be opened there, and Dutch law only allows licensed gambling operators.
Is Polymarket legal in the US?
Yes, through Polymarket US, a CFTC-regulated exchange. The international site is not available to US residents.