Is Polymarket Legal? US States & Countries in 2026

After acquiring a CFTC-regulated exchange, Polymarket is legal to operate in the United States at the federal level in 2026. Access still depends on your physical location, and a number of countries remain restricted. Here is the current picture.

United States

Polymarket US operates as a CFTC-regulated Designated Contract Market, so prediction trading is federally permitted. Some sports markets can still face state-by-state nuance, and access is based on your physical location rather than residency.

Restricted countries

Polymarket is accessible in around 180 countries but blocks roughly 30+ jurisdictions for regulatory and sanctions reasons, including France and Brazil at various points. The platform checks physical location, so a permitted-country user travelling to a restricted country may be blocked while there.

Is Polymarket legal in California / Texas?

Polymarket US operates federally under the CFTC; access is location-based. Check the in-app geo-check for your state, as sports markets can carry extra nuance.

Is Polymarket legal in the UK?

Polymarket is not officially licensed for UK retail at the time of writing due to FCA rules on binary options; UK users often look at regulated alternatives.