Is Polymarket legal in your country?
Polymarket is accessible in approximately 150+ countries but completely blocked in 33 countries, including some major markets like the United States (international version), France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Australia. Four additional countries have "close-only" status, meaning existing users can close positions but cannot open new ones.
The legality of prediction markets varies by jurisdiction. In most accessible countries, prediction markets are not specifically regulated, which means Polymarket operates in a legal gray area. Being accessible does not automatically mean explicitly legal. This guide covers the status for every major market.
Complete country status table
| Country | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Blocked (international) / Regulated (US version) | Full guide |
| United Kingdom | Blocked | Full guide |
| France | Blocked | Full guide |
| Germany | Blocked | Full guide |
| Italy | Blocked | Full guide |
| Australia | Blocked | Full guide |
| Singapore | Close-only | Full guide |
| Poland | Close-only | Blocked list |
| Thailand | Close-only | Blocked list |
| Taiwan | Close-only | Blocked list |
| Canada | Accessible (except Ontario) | Full guide |
| India | Accessible | Full guide |
| Japan | Accessible | Full guide |
| South Korea | Accessible | Full guide |
| Mexico | Accessible | Full guide |
| Brazil | Accessible | Full guide |
| Argentina | Accessible | Full guide |
| Spain | Accessible | Full guide |
| Turkey | Accessible | Full guide |
| Nigeria | Accessible | Full guide |
| South Africa | Accessible | Full guide |
| Philippines | Accessible | Full guide |
| Indonesia | Accessible | Full guide |
| UAE / Dubai | Accessible | Full guide |
| Netherlands | Accessible (enforcement increasing) | Full guide |
| Colombia | Accessible | Full guide |
| Chile | Accessible | Full guide |
| New Zealand | Accessible (scrutiny increasing) | Full guide |
| Pakistan | Accessible | Full guide |
Full list of blocked countries
The following 33 countries are completely restricted from accessing Polymarket, according to the official geographic restrictions page:
Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo (Kinshasa), Cuba, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North Korea, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Somalia, South Korea, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Blocked regions within accessible countries
Some countries are accessible overall but have specific regions that are blocked:
| Country | Blocked Region |
|---|---|
| Canada | Ontario |
| Ukraine | Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk |
Close-only countries
Four countries have "close-only" status. Users in these countries can close existing positions and withdraw funds, but cannot open new trades:
Singapore, Poland, Thailand, Taiwan.
What if Polymarket is blocked in your country?
Many users in blocked countries access the international Polymarket platform by using a VPN to connect from a non-restricted country. This changes your apparent location and bypasses the geoblock. This is a violation of Polymarket's Terms of Service, and accounts could be restricted if detected. In practice, it remains a widely used method.
Create your Polymarket account
Alternatives by region
If Polymarket is not accessible or you prefer a regulated option:
United States: Kalshi (CFTC-regulated, available to all US residents), Robinhood (integrated prediction markets in app)
United Kingdom: Smarkets (UK-licensed betting exchange with political markets), IG and Spreadex (spread betting on events)
Europe: limited options. Some EU-licensed betting exchanges offer event-based markets.
Global: Kalshi is expanding internationally. Some decentralized prediction protocols are accessible regardless of location but carry additional risks.
Why is Polymarket blocked in some countries?
Polymarket blocks countries for several reasons:
OFAC sanctions: countries sanctioned by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control are blocked by default (Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, etc.)
Gambling regulations: many countries classify prediction markets as unlicensed gambling. France, Australia, and Italy blocked Polymarket specifically for this reason.
Financial regulations: some countries require platforms offering financial derivatives or binary options to hold local licenses. Germany and the UK fall into this category.
Political betting laws: several European countries specifically prohibit betting on elections, which is Polymarket's highest-volume category.
Is the trend towards more or less restriction?
The picture is mixed. In the US, the trend is towards acceptance: Polymarket received CFTC approval in late 2025, and major financial institutions like ICE (owner of NYSE) invested $2.6 billion. Prediction markets are going mainstream.
In Europe, the trend is towards more restriction. France, Portugal, and the Netherlands all took enforcement action against Polymarket in 2024-2026. More EU countries may follow.
In the rest of the world, most countries have not taken any specific action. Prediction markets remain in a gray area: not explicitly legal, but not prohibited.
New to prediction markets? Read our complete beginner guide to understand how they work.
Ready to start? Learn how to create a Polymarket account and how to deposit funds.
