Where is Polymarket legal? Full list of blocked and restricted countries (2026)
Polymarket blocks 7 sanctioned regions completely and makes more than 35 countries and provinces close-only, including the US, UK, France, Germany, Australia and parts of Canada. The full list, by region.
In this article
Polymarket's global site is open in most of the world, but not everywhere. It publishes a list of restricted places in three tiers: blocked completely (sanctioned regions), close-only (you can close existing positions but not open new ones), and close-only on the website only. Being off the list does not make Polymarket legal where you live; it only means Polymarket does not block you.
Based on Polymarket's published geographic restrictions as of 16 October 2026. The list changes; Polymarket also checks your location automatically when you trade.
Blocked completely
Sanctioned by the US Treasury (OFAC). No new orders, and existing positions cannot be closed:
- Iran
- Syria
- Cuba
- North Korea
- Ukraine: the Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions
Close-only countries and regions
You can close positions you already hold, but you cannot open new ones, on the website or through the API:
| Region | Close-only |
|---|---|
| Europe | Belarus, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, United Kingdom |
| Americas | United States and US Minor Outlying Islands, Brazil, Nicaragua, Venezuela; in Canada: Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec |
| Asia-Pacific | Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Myanmar |
| Middle East and Africa | Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Yemen, Burundi, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Zimbabwe |
Close-only on the website
In these places the website is close-only:
- Ireland
- Japan
- the Netherlands
- South Korea
- Malta, for sports markets only
What this means country by country
United States. The global site is close-only for US users. Americans trade on Polymarket US, a separate exchange regulated by the CFTC, in dollars: how to use Polymarket in the US and is Polymarket legal in the US.
United Kingdom. Close-only. UK users who want exchange-style betting use gambling-licensed betting exchanges instead; see Polymarket alternatives.
Canada. Restricted in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, which together hold most of Canada's population. Other provinces are not on the list.
Europe. France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Poland and Slovakia are close-only, and the website is close-only in Ireland and the Netherlands. Several of these followed action by national gambling regulators.
Asia-Pacific. Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand are close-only; the website is close-only in Japan and South Korea.
Is Polymarket legal where it is not blocked?
Not necessarily. Polymarket's list reflects its own compliance decisions and US sanctions. Your country's law may still treat prediction markets as gambling, financial products or something else, and some regulators block gambling sites at the internet-provider level even when the site itself does not block the country. If you are unsure, check your national gambling or financial regulator. Taxes on winnings are your responsibility too; for the US view, see Kalshi taxes.
What about using a VPN?
Polymarket's terms forbid using a VPN or other tools to get around its restrictions. Accounts linked to restricted locations can be limited to closing positions or frozen, which can lock up your money. Polymarket's own legal history, including its 2022 settlement with the CFTC over US users, is why it takes this seriously: who owns Polymarket.
How Polymarket checks your location
Polymarket checks the location of your connection when you place an order and rejects orders from restricted places. Developers can call Polymarket's public geoblock check before sending orders; see the Kalshi and Polymarket APIs.
Where is Polymarket legal: frequently asked questions
Is Polymarket legal in the US?
The global site is close-only for Americans. US residents can use Polymarket US, a CFTC-regulated exchange.
Is Polymarket available in the UK?
It is close-only: UK users can close existing positions but not open new ones.
Is Polymarket legal in Canada?
It is restricted in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec. Other provinces are not on Polymarket's list, but check local rules.
Is Polymarket banned in Australia?
Australia is close-only on Polymarket's list.
Which countries are completely blocked from Polymarket?
Iran, Syria, Cuba, North Korea and the Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.
