Is Polymarket legal? Polymarket in the US, state by state
Yes, for US users through Polymarket US, a CFTC-designated exchange since July 2025. As of October 17, 2026 it says it's available in every state except Nevada, but about a dozen states have acted against it or are in court with it. The international polymarket.com site isn't open to US residents.
Yes, Polymarket is legal in the US, but only through Polymarket US, a CFTC-regulated exchange. As of October 17, 2026 its App Store listing says it’s available “in all 50 states*”, with the footnote “Trading currently unavailable in NV.” A dozen states have taken some action against it or are in court with it. The original, international polymarket.com is not legal for US residents to use: Polymarket itself blocks them.
Polymarket’s US legal history in brief
- January 2022: the CFTC fined Polymarket’s operator, Blockratize Inc., $1.4 million for offering event-based binary options without registering as an exchange, and ordered it to wind down non-compliant markets. Polymarket then blocked US users.
- July 9, 2025: the CFTC designated QCX LLC a contract market. Polymarket acquired QCX, and the exchange now does business as Polymarket US, clearing through QC Clearing LLC (d/b/a Polymarket Clearing).
- November 24, 2025: the CFTC amended QCX’s designation to allow trading through futures brokers. A December 2025 CFTC staff letter removed related conditions.
- 2026: the Polymarket US app opened to the public on iPhone and later Android. The two products stay separate: Polymarket’s help centre says its accounts “are not connected.”
Polymarket legal states: the map
State by state: actions against Polymarket US
| State | Action | Status (October 18, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | Gaming Control Board enforcement action (January 16, 2026); temporary restraining order (January 29); preliminary injunction (May 29, 2026) | Unavailable |
| New York | AG and Governor lawsuit (September 24, 2026), alleging an “illegal, unlicensed gambling operation” and access for 18–20-year-olds; Polymarket removed it to federal court and countersued | Contested |
| Michigan | Polymarket sued state officials (March 2026); injunction denied June 17, 2026; Sixth Circuit appeal pending | Contested |
| Kentucky | AG lawsuit in state court (June 17, 2026); federal magistrate recommended remand on October 14, 2026 (reported) | Contested |
| Massachusetts | Polymarket sued the AG (February 2026); stayed pending Massachusetts appeals in the Kalshi case | Contested |
| Illinois | Gaming Board cease-and-desist (January 27, 2026) | Contested |
| Tennessee | Sports Wagering Council cease-and-desist (January 9, 2026; reported) | Contested |
| Connecticut | Cease-and-desist to nine prediction markets (September 10, 2026) | Contested |
| Missouri | AG cease-and-desist (September 2026; reported) | Contested |
| Ohio | Casino Control Commission cease-and-desist (October 2, 2026; reported) | Contested |
| Wisconsin | Attorney General lawsuit over sports contracts (April 23, 2026) | Contested |
| Rhode Island | AG lawsuit against Kalshi and Polymarket US (May 2026); moved to federal court and consolidated with Kalshi’s suit (D.R.I.); ruling pending | Contested |
| New Mexico | Polymarket sued state officials (June 2026); case stayed with the state agreeing not to enforce meanwhile | Contested (standstill) |
| All other states and DC | No state action found | Available |
“Contested” means the state has acted but no order has stopped Polymarket US there, as far as we can confirm. Polymarket hasn’t published whether it has restricted sports contracts in any of these states, so the app’s location check is the final word.
Why states are fighting it
As with Kalshi, the dispute is mainly about sports contracts. Polymarket US is federally regulated, but states argue that sports event contracts are unlicensed sports betting. Several also object that Polymarket accepts 18-to-20-year-olds where sports betting requires users to be 21. Federal appeals courts are split on whether federal law pre-empts state gambling law for these contracts, and the Supreme Court has been asked to decide. Our Is Kalshi legal? page covers the court split in detail.
Is polymarket.com legal in the US?
No. Polymarket’s help centre lists the United States among restricted countries for the international site, and its developer docs mark the US “close-only.” Using a VPN to get around this breaks Polymarket’s terms. US users should use the Polymarket US app instead. See how to use the Polymarket app.
Age and eligibility
Polymarket US’s participant agreement requires you to be “at least 18 years of age, having attained the age of majority in your state.” You must pass identity checks (name, address, date of birth, SSN) before depositing. For every platform side by side, see our state legality tracker, or read our full Polymarket review.
Frequently asked questions
Is Polymarket legal in the US?
Yes, through Polymarket US. Its exchange, QCX LLC, was designated a contract market by the CFTC on July 9, 2025, and clears through QC Clearing LLC. The international polymarket.com site is a separate product that's restricted for US residents.
What states is Polymarket not legal in?
As of October 17, 2026, Polymarket US says trading is unavailable in Nevada, where a state court enjoined it on May 29, 2026. Its documentation lists no other excluded states, but New York, Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, Connecticut, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin and Rhode Island have taken action against it, and it is in court in Michigan, Massachusetts and New Mexico.
Can I use a VPN to access Polymarket?
No. Using a VPN to get around location restrictions breaks Polymarket's terms and could get your account closed and funds frozen. Polymarket US checks your location, and polymarket.com blocks US residents. Use only what's available where you are.
Was Polymarket ever illegal in the US?
In January 2022 the CFTC fined Polymarket's operator, Blockratize Inc., $1.4 million for offering event-based binary options without registering as an exchange, and Polymarket blocked US users. It returned legally after acquiring the CFTC-licensed exchange QCX.
Sources
- CFTC — Press release 8478-22: Polymarket (Blockratize) order, $1.4 million penalty (January 3, 2022)
- CFTC — Polymarket US Amended Order of Designation (QCX LLC)
- CFTC — Letter 25-48 (December 11, 2025)
- Polymarket US Docs — Legal agreements (QCX LLC; QC Clearing LLC)
- Polymarket US Participant Agreement v1.4 (August 6, 2026)
- Apple App Store — Polymarket US listing
- Polymarket Help Center — Geographic restrictions (international)
- Polymarket Help Center — Website vs app
- Nevada Gaming Control Board — civil enforcement action against Polymarket (January 16, 2026)
- Nevada Gaming Control Board — enforcement litigation update (June 1, 2026)
- New York Attorney General — lawsuit against Polymarket US (September 24, 2026)
- Illinois Gaming Board — cease-and-desist letters (Polymarket, January 27, 2026)
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit — docket 26-1552 (QCX v. Nessel)
- Wisconsin Department of Justice — lawsuits over sports event contracts (April 23, 2026)
- Ticker Tracker — State of Rhode Island v. KalshiEX and QCX (Polymarket US), D.R.I. 1:26-cv-00333 (secondary)
- Polymarket US (QCX LLC) v. Torrez — joint motion to stay with enforcement standstill (New Mexico, July 24, 2026)
- Connecticut Governor's Office — cease-and-desist orders to nine prediction markets (September 2026)
- The Block — Tennessee cease-and-desist to Polymarket (January 2026; secondary)
- Covers — Ohio cease-and-desist notices to 10 prediction-market companies (October 2026; secondary)
Last checked:
Not legal or betting advice. 18+ (21+ where required). Prediction markets involve risk of loss — only trade what you can afford to lose. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (National Problem Gambling Helpline, 24/7).