Is Polymarket legal in the UK?
No. Polymarket is blocked in the United Kingdom. The UK is on Polymarket's list of 33 restricted countries.
British users cannot create accounts, deposit funds, or trade on the international Polymarket platform.
Although Polymarket is blocked in the UK, many British users bypass this restriction by using a VPN. A VPN changes your apparent location, making it look like you're connecting from a country where Polymarket is available. This violates Polymarket's Terms of Service, but it remains a widely used method. Accounts could be restricted if detected.
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Why is Polymarket blocked in the UK?
The UK has strict regulations on both gambling and cryptocurrency. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates financial services, and the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) oversees all gambling activities.
Polymarket is not licensed by either body. Offering prediction market contracts to UK residents without proper authorization would put the platform in violation of UK financial regulations and gambling laws.
The FCA has also taken a hard line on crypto derivatives, banning the sale of crypto derivatives and exchange-traded notes to retail consumers since January 2021. Prediction market contracts could potentially fall under this ban.
Alternatives for UK users
UK residents interested in prediction markets have limited regulated options. Traditional spread betting platforms like IG and Spreadex offer some event-based markets. Smarkets, a UK-licensed betting exchange, offers political and event markets.
For crypto-native options, some decentralized prediction market protocols may be accessible, though they come with additional risks and regulatory uncertainty.
Curious about prediction markets? Read our guide to understanding how they work, even if you can't access Polymarket from the UK.
