Which Countries Does Polymarket Restrict?

Polymarket currently restricts 33 countries across 6 continents to maintain regulatory compliance. This data, sourced from Polymarket's geoblocking FAQ, is constantly updated as global laws change and new constraints usually come up every other month.

Polymarket Restricted Countries List in 2026

The table below categorizes all currently geoblocked regions and nations:

Note: While many nations face total bans, Ontario and specific Ukrainian territories are restricted regionally. Furthermore, Singapore, Poland, Thailand, and Taiwan operate under close-only status, prohibiting new positions on prediction markets.

Why Does Polymarket Restrict These Countries?

Polymarket restricts chosen regions to maintain legal integrity and ensure compliance with global financial standards. These safeguards protect the platform from regulatory backlash while adhering to international mandates, anti-money laundering protocols, and domestic gambling prohibitions across continents.

1. Global Regulatory and Financial Compliance

The platform aligns with strict international standards to prevent illicit financial activities and ensure that its prediction markets function within established legal frameworks.

The following list outlines the primary regulatory drivers for these restrictions:

• Sanctions Enforcement: Polymarket blocks regions sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to prevent prohibited entities from accessing its services.
• Anti-Money Laundering (AML): Compliance with AML protocols ensures the platform isn't used for transferring illicit funds or hiding proceeds from criminal activities.
• Know Your Customer (KYC): Strict verification processes are required to confirm user identities, meeting the standards set by global financial watchdogs and regulators.
• Financial Market Oversight: The platform adheres to Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) guidelines to avoid offering unregistered derivatives or swap execution facilities.

2. Local Gambling and Betting Legislation

Many jurisdictions classify prediction markets as a form of wagering, requiring specific licenses that are often incompatible with decentralized, crypto-native business models.

Here are the specific legal classifications leading to regional blocks:

• Unlicensed Gambling Prohibitions: Regulators like the National Gaming Authority (ANJ) in France classify prediction markets as unlicensed gambling, triggering immediate geoblocking.
• State Betting Monopolies: Countries such as Poland and Singapore restrict access because Polymarket competes with state-authorized entities that hold exclusive betting rights.
• Event-Based Betting Bans: Regulators like Portugal’s Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ) strictly prohibit wagering on political outcomes or sovereign elections.
• Public Integrity Protection: Certain markets are blocked to prevent insider trading or the manipulation of real-world events through speculative financial incentives.

Polymarket Supported Countries

Polymarket currently supports 160+ sovereign nations, providing decentralized prediction markets through the Polygon network. While primary operations run on London’s eu-west-2 servers, those restricted from that hub connect via eu-west-1 in Ireland to ensure optimal performance.

User traffic data from Similarweb indicates broad global adoption, with the United States holding 26.07% despite restrictions. Other active participants include Canada at 4.59%, Germany at 4.48%, and the United Kingdom at 3.46%, alongside a 57.98% share from others.

Key Supported Regions

The following territories currently maintain full access to Polymarket services:

• South America: Argentina, Brazil, and Chile offer high engagement for sports and political markets while maintaining full legal access to the platform.
• Asia: India, Japan, and South Korea represent the largest user bases for crypto-native betting and general event forecasting across the continent.
• Europe: Switzerland, Spain, and Greece remain open for users seeking decentralized prediction market options without facing domestic regulatory or legal blocks.
• Oceania: New Zealand and Fiji provide unrestricted access to all prediction contract categories, allowing users to trade freely on global outcomes.

Language & Currency Support

Accessing these markets requires specific digital assets and onboarding protocols:

• Stablecoin Settlement: The platform primarily operates in English and utilizes USDC pegged to the US Dollar to provide consistent market valuations.
• Direct Onboarding: Users can deposit cash via MoonPay using Visa, Mastercard, or standard bank transfers to acquire USDC for immediate platform use.
• Exchange Integration: Direct USDC transfers are available through Coinbase, bridging funds directly to the platform while maintaining high security for all users.
• Multi-Chain Deposits: The Transfer Crypto feature supports Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, and Solana, allowing for flexible asset management across various blockchain networks.
• High-Volume Transfers: For deposits exceeding $50,000, Polymarket recommends using external crypto bridges like Across or DeBridge to minimize potential slippage and fees.

Can I Use Polymarket in the USA?

As of 2026, Polymarket has officially returned to the United States through a fully regulated, intermediated platform. Following a late 2025 relaunch, American users can legally trade event contracts under strict Commodity Futures Trading Commission oversight and supervision.

Unlike the global version, Polymarket USA requires mandatory identity verification and utilizes registered futures commission merchants for processing trades. This structure replaces direct wallet connections, ensuring the platform meets federal standards for transparency, market surveillance, and investor protection.

While federally recognized, access remains subject to state-level restrictions. Recent legal challenges in Nevada and Massachusetts have restricted specific contract types, meaning regional availability can fluctuate based on local gaming laws and ongoing disputes with state-level regulatory bodies.

Polymarket Licenses and Regulation

Polymarket navigates a complex regulatory environment, securing federal approval in the United States while facing several nationwide bans across Europe and Southeast Asia.

Current licensing status and regional regulatory classifications for 2026:

• North America (USA): Operates as a regulated exchange under an Amended Order of Designation from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) since late 2025.
• Europe (France): Faces a strict nationwide geoblock enforced by the National Gaming Authority (ANJ) for offering unlicensed gambling services to residents.
• Europe (Belgium): Included on the official blacklist maintained by the Gaming Commission (BGC) for repeated violations of the country’s primary Gambling Act.
• Europe (Ukraine): Restricted by the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL) due to unauthorized wagering on sensitive national military outcomes.
• Europe (Switzerland): Officially blocklisted by the Gambling Supervisory Authority (Gespa) for failing to comply with federal legislation regarding lottery and betting.
• Asia (Singapore): Subject to access restrictions from the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) following a 2025 crackdown on offshore online betting websites.

Polymarket KYC Requirements

Internationally Polymarket primarily uses permissionless onboarding, allowing users to connect via Web3 wallets without immediate identity verification. However, as of 2026, the platform has intensified wallet monitoring following a restraining order issued by Nevada regulators regarding unauthorized access.

High-volume traders can face additional due diligence to satisfy international anti-money laundering standards. This reflects a broader industry trend toward transparency, reinforced by the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act, requiring residency proof for those exceeding specific thresholds.

Mandatory KYC for US Residents

The newly regulated US Polymarket platform requires a comprehensive identity verification process before users can legally access and trade on any available prediction markets.

The following requirements must be met during the registration process:

• Identity Verification: Users must submit a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport, to confirm their legal age.
• Social Security Submission: Providing a Social Security Number is mandatory for tax reporting and to comply with federal financial surveillance and anti-fraud mandates.
• Proof of Residency: A recent utility bill or bank statement is required to verify the user lives in a state where Polymarket is permitted.
• Regulated Broker Funding: Accounts must be funded through approved futures commission merchants, ensuring all capital enters the system via fully transparent channels.

About Polymarket

Polymarket is a blockchain-based prediction platform founded by Shayne Coplan in 2020, currently used by around 100,000 daily users via the Polygon network. This non-custodial marketplace allows traders to speculate on real-world outcomes while providing transparency and decentralized market access.

Polymarket is the leading global prediction market, processing over $3.3 billion in total wagers during the 2024 US presidential race alone. Its data gained worldwide attention after accurately reflecting campaign shifts ahead of traditional polling methods during that cycle.

Polymarket is now a major financial entity valued at $9 billion following a 2025 investment from Intercontinental Exchange. Its acquisition of QCEX provided a CFTC-licensed US pathway, driving record monthly volumes of $12 billion in January 2026.

Best Alternative if Polymarket Is Restricted in Your Country

If Polymarket is restricted where you live, Kalshi is the best alternative as a US-regulated exchange specializing in legal event contracts. Founded by Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara, it offers entirely transparent markets on elections, economics, and major global policy shifts.

Following its 2025 court victory over political contracts and the 2024 Kalshi Klear LLC clearing registration, the platform secured massive mainstream adoption. In 2026, major integrations with Coinbase and Robinhood have solidified Kalshi as a top-tier legal prediction exchange.

Final Thoughts

Polymarket continues to lead the global prediction market sector by offering decentralized access to 160+ countries through its blockchain-based Polygon infrastructure.

The platform's 2026 expansion into the United States through a regulated CFTC pathway represents a major milestone for legal and institutional adoption.

Navigating these geographic restrictions ensures that users maintain compliance while accessing high-liquidity markets for forecasting critical real-world outcomes and global economic trends.