Polymarket US is regulated at federal level, so it is built to work across the United States — but a few states are fighting it. Whether you can trade depends on the regulated app's eligibility check for your state, not on a list you read online.

This guide explains why the answer differs by state, what happened in Nevada, and how to check where you live. For the federal picture first, read is Polymarket legal in the US.

Why Polymarket's legality varies by state

Two sets of rules overlap:

  • Federal law. Event contracts on a designated contract market are regulated by the CFTC under the Commodity Exchange Act. Polymarket US operates as one of these exchanges.
  • State law. States license gambling, including sports betting. Some state regulators argue that a contract paying $1 if a team wins is a sports bet, whatever the federal label.

The result is a legal tug-of-war. Several states have sent cease-and-desist letters to prediction-market operators, and the CFTC has argued in court that federally regulated exchanges are outside state gaming laws. Until the courts settle the question, access can change state by state.

What happened in Nevada

Nevada is the clearest case so far. In early 2026 a Nevada court granted the state's request to temporarily block Polymarket, and Polymarket geofenced Nevada users. In June 2026 the state secured a preliminary injunction, keeping the block in place while the case continues.

If you are in Nevada, Polymarket US is not available to you while the order stands.

  1. Use the official Polymarket US app or site. It checks your location during sign-up.
  2. Read the eligibility screen. If your state is unsupported, the app tells you; a waitlist or "available soon" message means access isn't open to you yet.
  3. Don't rely on third-party lists. Articles listing "restricted states" often disagree with each other because they were written at different moments.
  4. Check again after news. Court rulings can open or close access quickly.

We deliberately don't publish a green/red map. It would be out of date the day a court rules, and a wrong answer could cost you money.

People search for these states most often. The answer follows the same logic for each: federal regulation applies, and the app has the final word on access.

  • California: "can I use Polymarket in California" — use Polymarket US and check eligibility. The international site is close-only for all US residents.
  • Texas and Florida: large sports markets, so they attract attention; check the app.
  • New York (NY): Polymarket's headquarters is in New York City, but that doesn't change eligibility rules.
  • New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, Maryland, North and South Carolina, Alabama: the same approach — check the app at sign-up and follow state news.

Polymarket vs sportsbooks: why sports sit at the centre

Most of the fight is about sports. A sportsbook sets odds and takes the other side of your bet; Polymarket matches traders with each other and charges a fee. States that license sportsbooks see event contracts as competition that avoids their rules and taxes. Markets on elections or economic data have drawn less state pushback. More in Polymarket sports markets.

What not to do

  • Don't hide your location or use someone else's account. It breaks Polymarket's terms, and accounts found doing it can be closed and funds frozen.
  • Don't move to the international site. It is close-only for US users under Polymarket's official geoblock rules.