Is Polymarket Legal? Country-by-Country Guide 2025
Key takeaway: Polymarket is legal and accessible in most countries, but falls into a regulatory grey zone in many jurisdictions. US citizens are blocked. Check your local gambling and financial laws before participating.
Is Polymarket legal? The answer depends on where you live. Since Polymarket operates as a decentralised protocol on the blockchain, it doesn't have a single governing jurisdiction — but that doesn't mean national laws don't apply to users.
United States — Blocked
Polymarket is not available to US citizens or residents. After a $1.4 million CFTC settlement in 2022 for offering unregistered event contracts, Polymarket withdrew from the US market and actively geoblock American IP addresses. Attempting to access via VPN violates Polymarket's terms of service.
United Kingdom — Grey zone
The UK Gambling Commission has not explicitly licensed or banned prediction markets like Polymarket. Users access the platform freely, but without regulatory protection. Winnings should be declared for tax purposes under HMRC guidelines.
Germany — Grey zone
Germany's Glücksspielstaatsvertrag (GlüStV 2021) regulates online gambling. Prediction markets fall into an ambiguous area of the law — neither explicitly licensed nor blocked. German users access Polymarket without restriction, but legal risk exists. See our detailed German legal guide.
Canada — Accessible
Canada has no federal prohibition on prediction markets for consumers. Provincial gambling regulations vary, but Polymarket is generally accessible and used freely by Canadian traders.
Australia — Grey zone
Australia's Interactive Gambling Act primarily targets operators, not consumers. Australian users access Polymarket without major legal risk, but the regulatory picture is not entirely clear.
⚠️ This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change frequently — consult a local lawyer for guidance specific to your situation.
Tax obligations everywhere
Regardless of legality, most countries require you to declare trading profits. In the UK, profits may be subject to Capital Gains Tax. In Germany, income tax applies. Always keep records of your trades.
PolyGram provides a transaction history export to simplify your tax reporting. Start trading on PolyGram →