Is Polymarket Legal in the US? iOS Open, No Waitlist (June 2026)

The United States has the most complex Polymarket situation of any country. The international exchange is blocked, but a separate CFTC-regulated US exchange launched in December 2025 — and it’s now caught in a fierce battle between federal regulators, state gambling commissions, and the courts.

Quick status — last updated June 2026:

• International exchange (polymarket.com): Geoblocked for US IP addresses. No US signups.
• Polymarket US exchange: Waitlist removed in May 2026 — now open to US users on the iOS app (Android and web still pending). CFTC-regulated, full KYC required.
• Your state matters: Minnesota has banned prediction markets (effective Aug 1, 2026, now being challenged by the CFTC), and 11+ states have issued cease-and-desist orders.
• Also available: Kalshi (CFTC-regulated) — broader availability if you’re on Android or web.

Current Status: Blocked (International) / Open on iOS (US Exchange)

The international Polymarket exchange — the one with deep liquidity, no KYC, and wide market variety — is geoblocked for US IP addresses. This has been the case since Polymarket’s 2022 CFTC settlement.

A separate Polymarket US exchange launched on December 2, 2025 with CFTC approval. After six months of invite-only access, Polymarket removed the waitlist in May 2026 — the iOS app is now open to US users without an invite code. Android and web versions have not launched yet.

The Regulatory Timeline

Polymarket’s US journey has been a rollercoaster:

2022: The CFTC Settlement

In January 2022, the CFTC ordered Polymarket (Blockratize, Inc.) to pay a $1.4 million penalty for operating an unregistered facility for event-based binary options. Polymarket was required to wind down non-compliant markets and cease US operations. The CFTC noted Polymarket’s “substantial cooperation” in reducing the penalty.

2024: The FBI Raid

On November 13, 2024, the FBI raided CEO Shayne Coplan’s New York apartment, seizing his phone and electronic devices. The DOJ was investigating whether Polymarket was allowing US users to trade on the international platform in violation of the 2022 settlement.

2025: Full Reversal

• July 2025: DOJ and CFTC formally ended their investigations without bringing charges. Polymarket received declination notices from both agencies.
• July 2025: Polymarket acquired QCEX (a CFTC-licensed derivatives exchange and clearinghouse) for $112 million, providing the regulatory foundation for a legal US return.
• October 2025: Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the NYSE, invested up to $2 billion in Polymarket at an ~$9 billion valuation.
• November 2025: The CFTC granted Polymarket an Amended Order of Designation, allowing it to operate as a fully regulated US platform.
• December 2025: The Polymarket US app launched — invite-only.

2026: The State-Level Battlefield

While Polymarket won at the federal level, state gambling regulators are fighting back:

• Nevada: Filed a civil complaint in January 2026. A judge granted a temporary restraining order banning Polymarket from offering contracts to Nevada residents.
• Tennessee: Issued cease-and-desist orders in January 2026. A federal judge temporarily blocked Tennessee’s enforcement against Kalshi while considering federal preemption.
• Massachusetts: A judge ordered Kalshi to block state residents in February 2026. Polymarket then sued Massachusetts, arguing the CFTC has exclusive jurisdiction.
• Connecticut: Issued cease-and-desist orders to Kalshi, Polymarket, and Crypto.com on the day of Polymarket’s US launch.
• Illinois: Sent Polymarket a cease-and-desist in January 2026, calling its activity illegal gambling.
• Arizona: Filed 20 criminal counts against Kalshi for illegal gambling.

Officials in at least 11 states have sent cease-and-desist orders, with active litigation in 8+ states. Courts have reached conflicting conclusions on whether federal CFTC approval preempts state gambling laws — this will likely need to be resolved by higher courts.

Spring 2026: MLB Deal and New CFTC Rulemaking

• MLB named Polymarket as its exclusive prediction market exchange partner in a multi-year deal with access to official data feeds.
• The CFTC issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking soliciting public input on new prediction market rules.
• A bipartisan Senate bill — the “Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act” — was introduced to ban sports event contracts on CFTC-regulated platforms.
• April 2026: In a notable role reversal, the federal government (CFTC) sued Connecticut, Arizona, and Illinois, arguing that prediction markets fall under exclusive federal jurisdiction and that the states’ cease-and-desist actions are preempted.

May 2026: Waitlist Dropped and Minnesota’s Ban

• Polymarket removed its US waitlist around mid-May 2026, roughly six months after launch, opening the iOS app to US users without an invite code. Android and web access remain unavailable.
• Minnesota became the first state to outright ban prediction markets. Governor Tim Walz signed a law that takes effect August 1, 2026, potentially exposing operators to felony charges. The CFTC immediately sued Minnesota, seeking a preliminary injunction to block the ban, with the agency arguing the law “turns lawful operators and participants in prediction markets into felons overnight.” Kalshi filed its own suit against the state.

Which US States Restrict Polymarket?

Federal CFTC approval has not settled the question at the state level. As of mid-2026, officials in at least 11 states have issued cease-and-desist orders or filed suit against prediction-market platforms, and Minnesota has gone furthest — an outright ban. The most aggressive:

The legal picture is unusually fluid: states argue prediction markets are unlicensed gambling, while the CFTC is now suing states (Connecticut, Arizona, Illinois, and Minnesota) on the grounds that federal law preempts them. Courts have reached conflicting conclusions, so expect this to escalate to higher courts. Check your own state’s status before assuming access.

How the Polymarket US Exchange Works

The Polymarket US exchange is fundamentally different from the international platform. Settlement is in US dollars (traditional fiat) — Polymarket US does not use crypto, and the PUSD stablecoin from the international exchange is not part of the US product. Accounts are funded through approved futures commission merchants (FCMs), not direct crypto wallet connections.

Do You Need KYC for Polymarket US?

Yes — the Polymarket US exchange requires full identity verification (a CFTC requirement). To sign up you need:

• Government-issued photo ID
• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Proof of residency
• A live selfie for identity verification

This is the opposite of the international exchange, which has no KYC — you can sign up with just an email or Google account.

Is There Still a Polymarket US Waitlist?

No — the waitlist was removed in mid-May 2026. For its first six months (December 2025 to May 2026), the Polymarket US exchange was invite-only, and reported waits ranged from 1–2 weeks for the earliest December signups to 6–12 weeks for early-2026 signups. That waitlist has now been dissolved: the iOS app is open to US users without an invite code.

The remaining gaps are platform, not access: Android and web versions have not launched yet, and liquidity on the US exchange is still significantly lower than the international platform. State bans like Minnesota’s (effective August 1, 2026) could also restrict access in specific states.

What About the International Exchange?

The international Polymarket exchange — the one this site primarily covers — is geoblocked for US IP addresses. Polymarket uses a dedicated geoblock API that checks IPs against restricted countries before allowing any order submission.

The restriction is based solely on IP address — there is no KYC or identity verification on the international 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.

Polymarket vs Kalshi: The US Prediction Market Battle

Kalshi is Polymarket’s main US competitor. Here’s how they compare:

Both platforms face the same state-level legal challenges and are both subject to the proposed Senate bill to ban sports event contracts.

The Bottom Line for US Residents

1. The international exchange is geoblocked. Access is restricted by IP address for US users.
2. The US exchange is now open on iOS. The waitlist was removed in May 2026 — you can sign up directly on the iOS app with full KYC. Android and web aren’t available yet.
3. State laws are a mess. Even with federal approval, your state may be trying to block prediction markets — Minnesota has passed an outright ban (effective August 1, 2026). Check whether your state has taken action.
4. Kalshi is also available and has broader platform coverage (app and web) if you’re not on iOS.
5. This is all evolving rapidly. The regulatory landscape is shifting month to month — the CFTC is now suing states to keep prediction markets open. We’ll keep this page updated.

Related Guides

• All Country Guides — Check availability for every country
• Country Availability Checker — Instant status lookup for 190+ countries
• What Is Polymarket? — Full introduction to the platform
• Who Owns Polymarket? — The company, the CFTC settlement, and the path back to the US
• How Prediction Markets Work — Understand the mechanics
• Polymarket vs Kalshi — Detailed comparison
• How to Sign Up for Polymarket — For the international exchange
• How to Deposit on Polymarket — Fund your account
• Polymarket Fees Explained — Fee structure breakdown (or use the fee calculator)