The United Kingdom is close-only on Polymarket's official list. If you're in the UK you can look at markets and close a position you already hold, but you can't open a new one. Here's what that means in practice.

Polymarket's status in the UK

Polymarket's geographic restrictions documentation has two levels:

  • Fully blocked: no trading at all, mostly sanctioned territories.
  • Close-only: existing positions can be closed, new trades are blocked on the website and the API.

The United Kingdom is in the second group, together with the United States, France, Germany and Italy (checked 30/09/2026). The full list is in Polymarket available countries, and our note on the country is at United Kingdom.

A message such as "not available in your region" means exactly that. We never explain ways around country restrictions: hiding your location breaks Polymarket's terms and can lead to a closed account and frozen funds.

What the rules say

Polymarket's list tells you where Polymarket allows trading. Whether an activity is lawful is a separate question, decided by national law. In Great Britain, operators that offer gambling to consumers need a licence from the Gambling Commission. If you're unsure how the rules apply to you, don't trade.

Is there a UK version of Polymarket?

No. Polymarket US is a separate exchange regulated by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, open only to eligible United States residents. It isn't available to people in the UK, and an account on one platform doesn't give access to the other.

What you can still do from the UK

Things to keep in mind

  1. Prices are estimates. A 70¢ price is wrong three times in ten.
  2. Thin markets mislead. Check volume before quoting a price.
  3. Beware lookalikes. Sites promising "Polymarket for UK users" with no checks are a red flag.