Polymarket lists Australia as close-only. That means existing positions can be closed, but new trades cannot be opened — so a new visitor can’t start trading here. The restriction stems from Australian regulators: ACMA (the Australian Communications and Media Authority) took action against the platform, and the trigger was a specific incident — Polymarket paying Australian influencers to promote election betting.
Current Status: Close-Only (Can’t Open New Trades)
Polymarket classifies Australia as close-only: Australian users can close existing positions but cannot open new ones. There is no way for a new visitor to start trading from Australia.
On August 13, 2025, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) formally directed all Australian ISPs to restrict access to Polymarket. The platform was declared a prohibited service under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA).
This is a dual restriction: Australian ISPs restrict the site on ACMA’s direction, and Polymarket’s own system also marks Australia as close-only, allowing existing positions to be closed but blocking new ones.
What Happened: The Full Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 2025 | Australian media reports Polymarket is paying Instagram and TikTok influencers (audiences up to ~1 million) to promote Australian federal election betting markets |
| May 2025 | ACMA investigation becomes public |
| July 2, 2025 | ACMA issues formal warning to Polymarket’s parent company (Adventure One QSS, Inc.), stating the platform provides “a prohibited and unlicensed regulated interactive gambling service to customers physically present in Australia” |
| August 13, 2025 | ACMA directs ISPs to restrict Polymarket. Platform added to national gambling blacklist |
The influencer marketing campaign was the trigger, but the underlying legal basis is the Interactive Gambling Act — which prohibits unlicensed offshore gambling services from offering services to Australians. The practical outcome for users is a close-only status: existing positions can be closed, new trades can’t be opened.
The Regulatory Picture
ACMA (Primary Enforcer)
ACMA is Australia’s communications and media regulator. Under the IGA, it has the power to:
- Investigate unlicensed gambling services targeting Australians
- Issue formal warnings to operators
- Direct ISPs to restrict access to prohibited sites
- Polymarket was formally classified as a wagering service requiring an Australian state/territory licence — which it doesn’t hold
ASIC
ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) has not directly acted against Polymarket, but its regulations are relevant:
- Binary options are banned for retail clients in Australia (extended through October 2031)
- Prediction markets resemble binary options — they pay a fixed amount if a condition is met
- Under the proposed Digital Assets Framework Bill 2025, ASIC would oversee consumer protection for crypto platforms
Australian Alternatives
| Platform | Type | Licensed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betfair Exchange | Betting exchange | Yes (NT licence) | Closest to Polymarket — peer-to-peer, trade in/out. ~5% commission. |
| Sportsbet | Bookmaker | Yes | Wide sports coverage, but fixed odds against the house |
| bet365 | Bookmaker | Yes | Large market range, traditional bookmaker model |
| TAB | Bookmaker | Yes | Australia’s national betting operator |
| Ladbrokes | Bookmaker | Yes | Sports and racing focus |
Key limitations vs Polymarket:
- No crypto/politics/economics/weather markets (Australian law restricts event betting categories)
- Traditional bookmakers limit or ban winning accounts
- Betfair is the only exchange model, but with higher fees (~5%) and decreasing liquidity
- All require full KYC (identity verification)
Accessing Polymarket from Australia
Because Polymarket lists Australia as close-only, new positions cannot be opened from Australian IPs even if you reach the platform. Existing positions can still be closed. Polymarket restrictions are based on IP address — there is no KYC or identity verification on the platform. Some users in restricted regions access international platforms by routing their internet connection through a different geographic location. This is a common practice for accessing global financial and information services, though it doesn’t change the close-only status for opening new positions.
If you’re an existing user settling or closing a position, you’d work with USDC or any of 21 other supported tokens — Polymarket converts everything to PUSD (its own dollar-pegged stablecoin) on arrival. Australian crypto exchanges include:
| Exchange | AUD Deposits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CoinSpot | Bank transfer, PayID, BPAY | Largest Australian exchange |
| Swyftx | Bank transfer, PayID | Competitive fees |
| Independent Reserve | Bank transfer, PayID | Established, institutional focus |
| Coinbase | Bank transfer | Global platform, Coinbase Connect works with Polymarket |
Related Guides
- All Country Guides — Check availability for every country
- Country Availability Checker — Instant status lookup for 190+ countries
- What Is Polymarket? — Learn about the platform
- How Prediction Markets Work — Understand the mechanics
- How to Sign Up for Polymarket — Create your account in under 2 minutes
- How to Deposit on Polymarket — Fund your account step by step
- How to Trade on Polymarket — Market orders, limit orders, and tips
- Polymarket Fees Explained — Fee breakdown by category (or use the fee calculator)
- Polymarket Review 2026 — Full platform overview