Is Polymarket legal in Canada?
Partially. Polymarket is accessible from most of Canada, but Ontario is blocked. If you're in any province or territory other than Ontario, you can create an account and trade without restrictions.
Ontario is specifically listed on Polymarket's geographic restrictions page as a blocked region. Users in Ontario cannot deposit or trade, even through the mobile app.
Why is Ontario blocked?
Ontario has some of the strictest online gambling regulations in Canada. The province's iGaming market, regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), requires platforms offering betting or wagering services to register and obtain a license. Polymarket has not done this, so Ontario residents are blocked.
How Canadian regulations apply
Outside Ontario, Canada does not have specific federal laws prohibiting prediction markets. The Criminal Code regulates gambling, but prediction markets are generally not classified as gambling at the federal level. Crypto is legal and regulated in Canada under securities and money services business frameworks.
The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) have not specifically addressed prediction market platforms. This means Polymarket operates in a regulatory gray area in most provinces, but is not explicitly prohibited.
How to get started from Canada (outside Ontario)
- Go to Polymarket and create an account
- Deposit via credit card, Apple Pay, or by transferring USDC from a Canadian exchange like Shakepay, Newton, or Bitbuy
- Start trading
Check our step-by-step guide to creating your account for a full walkthrough.
Tax implications for Canadian users
Crypto gains in Canada are generally treated as capital gains, with 50% of the gain being taxable at your marginal rate. If you trade frequently enough to be considered a business, 100% of gains may be taxable as business income. Consult a Canadian tax professional for guidance.
