Is Polymarket legal in the prediction marketplace? We’ve determined that, as of 2026, the brand is available to traders across most US states.
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The prediction market platform was available in the US between 2020 and 2022, but then exited. Now Polymarket has returned with approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) after acquiring a licensed derivatives exchange. We investigate the current situation here, providing details of state availability as well as available prediction markets, rewards, and how to get started.
Yes, Polymarket is legal in the US. However, it has only recently re-entered the US market after having been restricted for several years. To gain a better understanding of the legal situation, let’s take a brief look at the developments in recent years. Polymarket was founded in New York, USA, in 2020 and operated throughout the country until 2022. At that point, it received a fine from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for regulatory violations. It withdrew its services from the US the same year.
However, in late 2025 the CFTC has released an amended statement which effectively greenlit Polymarket’s re-entry in the US. US traders in eligible states can now access Polymarket legally and safely again.
Their current terms and conditions give a
Polymarket age requirement
of 18 years or older to sign up. You can sign up via two dedicated apps for iOS and Android as well as access the site on your destop and mobile browsers.
Download Polymarket mobile app
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What States Is Polymarket Legal In?
At present, you can sign up to use Polymarket in most American states. Their official website confirms that it is available in most states, except for NV, AZ, IL, MD, MI, MT, and OH. Note that while it’s unlikely that you’ll find a
Polymarket signup bonus
on the website, you can take advantage of other offers such as the site’s daily rewards and a referral bonus.
A Brief Look at Polymarket’s History and Re-entry to the US Market
We’ve seen from the history of the company that it operated throughout the United States in the first couple of years following its launch. However, it did not follow all regulatory requirements, hence why it withdrew from the US prediction market at that stage for not fully complying with all necessary laws. It then worked with the CFTC to resolve the situation.
Its route back into the US market began with the 2025 purchase of a licensed derivatives exchange, QCX. The CFTC approved the purchase, which meant Polymarket could legally operate within the US. After an amended statement by the CFTC in late 2025, Polymarket officially relaunched in the US as of December 2025. This means Polymarket is legal in Florida and most other states at the time of writing. New traders can use a
Polymarket referral code
when signing up, if they have one, and get started with an excellent range of prediciton markets on the site.
The Legality of Prediction Markets Versus Sports Betting in the US
The ability to trade prediction contracts across sports markets in the US is more widely available than standard betting. That’s because they use different formats. Standard sports wagering involves odds, with the sportsbook acting as the ‘house’ in terms of managing wagers. The site manages the odds, and while they remain competitive with others, they will take a house edge to ensure they remain in profit.
In contrast, prediction markets involve ‘yes or no’ contracts that aim to predict whether something will happen or not. You make these trades with other individuals rather than going up against the house. The buying and selling format ensures that prediction markets falls within the scope of a financial trading platform. You can buy a contract based on the team you think will win a match, and choose to sell before the match finishes. While prediction markets sound more complicated, it is often simpler to understand once you’ve tried it.
We’ve put together a table detailing the main points of each format to provide some clarity, to help you understand
Polymarket probabilities
and other facets of the service.
Feature
Event Trading
Sports Betting
How does it work?
It uses a peer-to-peer model involving other users rather than the service provider
You make bets via the sportsbook
What are the odds like?
Odds change to reflect how active the market is and what the overriding opinion is on the likelihood of an event occurring
The sportsbook decides on the odds it offers to would-be bettors
Which markets does it cover?
You can typically find contracts on sports, elections, currency, and plenty more besides
Standard sportsbooks typically only provide sports betting options, with the chance of a few other markets, including election outcomes
Why Is Polymarket Legal Throughout the US When Sportsbooks Are Not?
Each US state has its own stance on sports betting and whether it allows online sportsbooks. In contrast, prediction markets involve event contracts. This refers to whether an event will occur or not, i.e., whether one team will beat another in a sporting event, for example. Companies offering prediction markets are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Contracts like these are viewed as financial transactions or trades, and therefore operate under the financial trading platform format. It remains to be seen whether this is the case in the future, but it explains why Polymarket is legal and can operate throughout eligible states in the United States.
Polymarket Is Legal and Available Across the US
As we’ve seen, prediction markets work differently compared to traditional gambling. That’s why it is far more widely available. The two formats operate according to different rules and regulations. If you don’t live in a state where you can participate in traditional betting, you may be interested in learning more about trading on Polymarket instead.
The brand has gained recent approval from the CFTC and has relaunched its services in the US. You can find out more about Polymarket, legal in California and many other states, by following one of the links we’ve provided you with on this page to visit the official website. From there, you can create your first account and start trading event contracts on a wide range of prediction markets.
Is Polymarket Legal? FAQs
Yes, it provides legitimate prediction markets in many countries around the world. It was founded by Shayne Coplan in New York, US, in 2020, and still has its headquarters in Lexington Avenue, NY, today.
Yes. Polymarket is legal in Texas.
Polymarket launched its services across the US on December 3 2025.
As the name suggests, it provides prediction options for multiple markets. These include sports, finance, crypto, elections, and many other areas. For example, you can predict whether your favorite team will win a sporting event or even try to predict the future price of a cryptocurrency.
Download Polymarket mobile app
More ways to play at Polymarket
