Polymarket restricts trading in 41 countries and territories plus 7 regions, according to its own developer documentation, which we checked on 23 September 2026. Four countries under US sanctions and three regions of Ukraine are blocked completely. Everywhere else on the list is close-only: you can close positions you already hold, but you cannot open new ones.
Polymarket restricted countries at a glance (September 2026)
| Restriction level | What it means | Countries and regions |
|---|---|---|
| Blocked completely (US sanctions) | No new trades, and existing positions cannot be closed | Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine |
| Close-only (website and API) | You can close existing positions but cannot open new ones | Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, US Minor Outlying Islands, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe, plus the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec |
| Close-only on polymarket.com | The same restriction on the website | Ireland, Japan, Malta (sports markets only), Netherlands, South Korea |
- Allowed everywhere else. Polymarket's help center says polymarket.com "is available to users outside the United States, with exception of restricted countries." Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, most of Canada, Mexico, Argentina, India, Hong Kong and the UAE are not on the list.
- United States. polymarket.com is close-only for US users. Americans use Polymarket US, a separate CFTC-regulated exchange with its own apps and website, identity checks and an 18+ age limit. Its App Store listing says trading is currently unavailable in Nevada.
- Location decides. Access follows where you physically are when you connect, and Polymarket prohibits using a VPN to get around the list.
This guide covers the full list by region, what close-only means for your open positions, how the 2026 US setup works, and how to check your own access before you deposit. For the legal side, read Is Polymarket Legal in the US? and Are Prediction Markets Legal? A Country-by-Country Guide. New to the platform? Start with What Is Polymarket?.
Polymarket Restricted Countries by Region
Find your country below. "Not on the list" means Polymarket does not restrict it as of 23 September 2026. It says nothing about local law, which is a separate question.
Europe
| Status | Countries and regions |
|---|---|
| Close-only | Belarus, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, United Kingdom |
| Close-only on the website | Ireland, Malta (sports markets only), Netherlands |
| Blocked completely | Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk (regions of Ukraine) |
| Not on the list | Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and the rest of Ukraine |
That puts 9 of the 27 EU member states under some restriction, while the other 18 are not on the list. For the wider European picture, see Prediction Markets in Europe. For the UK, see Prediction Markets in the UK.
Americas
| Status | Countries and regions |
|---|---|
| Close-only | United States and US Minor Outlying Islands (see the US section), Brazil, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and in Canada the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec |
| Blocked completely | Cuba |
| Not on the list | The rest of Canada (for example Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan), Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru |
Asia-Pacific
| Status | Countries and regions |
|---|---|
| Close-only | Australia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand |
| Close-only on the website | Japan, South Korea |
| Blocked completely | North Korea |
| Not on the list | India, Pakistan, mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam |
Middle East and Africa
| Status | Countries and regions |
|---|---|
| Close-only | Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Yemen, Zimbabwe |
| Blocked completely | Iran, Syria |
| Not on the list | United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa |
Polymarket lists the Democratic Republic of the Congo as "Congo (Kinshasa)". The Republic of the Congo is not on the list.
What Blocked and Close-Only Mean
Polymarket's developer documentation sorts the list into three levels:
- Blocked completely (US sanctions). No new orders, and existing positions cannot be closed, on the website or the API. This covers Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and the Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
- Close-only on the website and API. You can close existing positions but cannot open new ones. Most of the list sits here, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Brazil and Australia.
- Close-only on the website. The same restriction applies on polymarket.com, while the documentation notes that the API itself is not restricted. This covers Ireland, Japan, Malta (sports markets only), the Netherlands and South Korea. The help center lists Ireland, Japan, Malta and the Netherlands among blocked countries without that distinction, and the website's trading attestation asks every trader to confirm they are not in a restricted jurisdiction.
Polymarket's help center adds country examples that show how this works in practice:
- Germany: trading is prohibited. Existing positions must be held until the market resolves; after that, shares can be redeemed and funds withdrawn without restrictions. Market data and comments remain available.
- Italy: you can view markets and data but cannot trade.
- Ontario: you can view market data but cannot deposit or trade, including in the app.
- Poland: you can view market data and close out positions, but cannot open new ones.
- Singapore: you can close existing positions but cannot open new ones.
The Germany example is stricter than the general close-only rule, so if you hold positions in a restricted country, check what the site actually lets you do before assuming you can sell early. The published examples restrict trading and deposits, not reading: Polymarket says users "can access market data globally."
Why You May See 39, 40 or 41 Countries
Polymarket's two official pages do not match exactly. The help center article (last updated 14 August 2026) says "39 countries" in its heading, but its table lists 40. The developer documentation lists 41: the same 40 plus South Korea, marked close-only on the website. Both list the same 7 regions. This guide follows the developer documentation because it is the more complete of the two.
Is Polymarket Available in the US? (2026)
Yes, but not on polymarket.com. In 2026 Polymarket runs two separate products, and accounts are not connected:
| Polymarket (polymarket.com) | Polymarket US | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Users outside the US, except restricted countries | Users in the United States |
| US status | Close-only; US visitors can browse in view-only mode | Open to US users aged 18+ after identity checks |
| Regulation | International, crypto-based product on Polygon | CFTC-regulated exchange (DCM) and clearinghouse (DCO) |
| Money | Trades use pUSD, a USDC-backed token | US dollars via debit card, bank transfer (ACH) or wire |
| Where to use it | polymarket.com | iOS and Android apps, and polymarket.us |
| Support | [email protected] | [email protected] |
On polymarket.com, the United States and the US Minor Outlying Islands are close-only. Polymarket's help center says US users cannot deposit funds or place trades on the website, and US visitors see a notice that trading is blocked in the United States, with an option to continue in view-only mode. The website's trading attestation also asks every trader to confirm they are not a U.S. person, not located in the United States, France or another restricted jurisdiction, and not using a VPN.
Polymarket US is the company's separate exchange for Americans. Its documentation describes a fiat-based platform operating as a designated contract market (DCM) and derivatives clearing organization (DCO) under CFTC oversight, run through QCX LLC (doing business as Polymarket US) and QC Clearing LLC (doing business as Polymarket Clearing). You sign up with Google or Apple, then verify your identity with your name, date of birth and address, and sometimes a government ID and a selfie. Manual reviews can take 3 to 5 business days. Markets cover sports, elections, economics, weather, culture, tech and crypto.
State availability: Polymarket's App Store listing (September 2026) describes the app as CFTC regulated "in all 50 states" with a footnote: "Trading currently unavailable in NV." Its Google Play listing says the app is "not available in all jurisdictions." Confirm inside the app before you deposit.
For the legal background, read Is Polymarket Legal in the US? and Are Prediction Markets Legal in the US?. To compare Polymarket with Kalshi, see Kalshi vs Polymarket. CoinRithm's US availability page summarizes what each venue's official terms say about US access.
Polymarket Perps Has a Separate List
Polymarket Perps, the company's perpetual-contracts product, follows its own rules. Its FAQ says order placement is not permitted from the United States, Canada (the whole country, not just four provinces), Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Crimea, Donetsk or Luhansk. The two lists are different, so check the one for the product you plan to use.
Why Polymarket Restricts Some Countries
Polymarket's documentation gives two sources for the list: countries sanctioned by the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and "additional regulatory restrictions" added for specific compliance reasons. It names the goals as compliance with:
- international sanctions and embargoes
- local financial regulations
- gambling and prediction market laws
- anti-money-laundering (AML) requirements
- know-your-customer (KYC) regulations
It does not publish a reason for each country, and its changelog does not record when countries are added. Treat any list, including this one, as a dated snapshot and check the date before you rely on it.
How to Check Your Access Before You Deposit
- Find your country and region in the lists above. In Canada, check your province, not just the country.
- Ask Polymarket directly. Its public checker at polymarket.com/api/geoblock returns
"blocked": trueorfalse, plus the country and region it detects for your connection. When we opened it from an Irish connection on 23 September 2026, it returned"blocked": true, matching the list. - In the US, use Polymarket US, not polymarket.com.
- Do not use a VPN. Polymarket's help center says it strictly prohibits VPNs or similar tools used to bypass geographic restrictions and treats this as a violation of its Terms of Service (section 2.1.4). The trading attestation also lets Polymarket put a non-compliant wallet into close-only mode.
- Traveling? Access follows your physical location, not your residency. Polymarket's example: users traveling to a non-restricted country such as Bulgaria can keep trading. The same logic applies in reverse while you are in a restricted country.
Building on the API? Polymarket's documentation says orders from blocked regions are rejected and asks builders to check the same geoblock endpoint before users try to trade.
Already holding positions in a country that is now restricted? How to Withdraw Money from Polymarket walks through getting funds out.
How CoinRithm Fits In
CoinRithm is a research site, so you can follow Polymarket without an account or a deposit:
- See live Polymarket markets and odds on the Polymarket page, and compare the same question across venues to see where probabilities diverge.
- If Polymarket is restricted where you live, Polymarket Alternatives covers other venues, and CoinRithm's availability tracker summarizes what each venue's official terms say about access, country by country.
- To practise first, CoinRithm paper trading uses virtual funds, and you can let an AI agent paper trade prediction markets on a 50,000 mUSD virtual account. CoinRithm is paper trading only: no real money moves, and nothing is routed to Polymarket.
Official Sources We Checked
All checked on 23 September 2026:
- Polymarket Docs: Geographic Restrictions (the three-level list with country codes)
- Polymarket Help Center: Geographic Restrictions (country examples, VPN rule, travel rule)
- Polymarket Help Center: Website vs App (polymarket.com versus Polymarket US)
- Polymarket US Docs and Polymarket US regulatory information
- Polymarket Perps FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What countries are restricted on Polymarket?
As of September 2026, Polymarket's developer documentation lists 41 countries and territories plus 7 regions. Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and Ukraine's Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions are blocked completely. The rest are close-only, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan and four Canadian provinces, plus Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands and South Korea on the website.
Which countries can use Polymarket?
Any country not on Polymarket's restricted list. Its help center says polymarket.com is available to users outside the United States, except in restricted countries. As of September 2026 that includes, for example, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, most of Canada, Mexico, Argentina, India, Hong Kong, the UAE, Nigeria and South Africa. Local law is a separate question, so check your own country's rules as well.
Is Polymarket available in the US in 2026?
Not on polymarket.com, which is close-only for US users and offers US visitors a view-only mode. Americans use Polymarket US, a separate CFTC-regulated exchange with its own iOS and Android apps and a website at polymarket.us. It trades in US dollars, requires identity verification and users aged 18 or older, and its App Store listing says trading is currently unavailable in Nevada.
Is Polymarket available in the UK?
No. Polymarket's developer documentation lists the United Kingdom as close-only on both the website and the API, and its help center lists the UK among blocked countries. UK users can close positions they already hold but cannot open new ones. For UK options and the legal context, see CoinRithm's guide to prediction markets in the UK.
Is Polymarket available in Canada?
Partly. Polymarket restricts four provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec) to close-only, so users there cannot open new positions. The rest of Canada is not on Polymarket's prediction-market list. Polymarket's separate Perps product is stricter: its FAQ says order placement is not permitted from anywhere in Canada. Check your province, not just your country, before depositing.
Where can I use Polymarket in Europe?
In 18 of the 27 EU countries, including Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Austria, Greece and Bulgaria, plus Switzerland and Norway, none of which are on Polymarket's list. Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Slovakia are close-only, as are the UK, Russia and Belarus. Ireland, Malta (sports markets) and the Netherlands are close-only on the website. Local rules still apply.
Can I comment on Polymarket from a restricted country?
Partly, based on Polymarket's own examples. Its help center says users in Germany keep access to market data and commenting even though trading is prohibited, and that market data stays viewable from Italy and Ontario. The published restrictions are about trading and deposits, not reading. US visitors to polymarket.com can continue in view-only mode. Polymarket does not publish a commenting rule for every country.
Can I use Polymarket while traveling?
Access depends on where you physically are, not where you live. Polymarket's help center says users traveling to a non-restricted country, such as Bulgaria, can keep trading. By the same logic, visiting a restricted country puts you under that country's restriction while you are there. US persons are a special case: polymarket.com asks every trader to confirm they are not a U.S. person.
Can I use a VPN to access Polymarket?
No. Polymarket's help center says it strictly prohibits VPNs or similar tools used to bypass geographic restrictions and treats this as a violation of its Terms of Service (section 2.1.4). Its trading attestation also asks traders to confirm they are not using a VPN, and reserves the right to put a non-compliant wallet into close-only mode. CoinRithm does not recommend trying.
What happens to my positions if my country is restricted?
In close-only countries you can close existing positions but cannot open new ones. In countries blocked under US sanctions, existing positions cannot be closed at all. Polymarket's help center example for Germany is stricter than close-only: positions must be held until the market resolves, after which shares can be redeemed and funds withdrawn without restriction. Check what the site allows before assuming you can sell early.
Conclusion
Polymarket's list is longer than most summaries suggest: 41 countries and territories plus 7 regions as of September 2026, with most of them close-only rather than fully blocked. Outside the list, polymarket.com is open to you. In the US, Polymarket US is the route. Wherever you are, check your province or region and Polymarket's live checker before you deposit.
Next Step
Need the US legal background? Read Is Polymarket Legal in the US? or Are Prediction Markets Legal in the US?.
Need the country-by-country legal picture? Read Are Prediction Markets Legal? A Country-by-Country Guide.
Restricted where you live? Compare Polymarket Alternatives.
Access is clear and you want the workflow? Read How to Use Polymarket.
Want to research live markets first? Start on CoinRithm Prediction Markets.
Last Updated: September 23, 2026
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Country and region availability can change quickly. Always verify current access directly with the platform before funding or trading.
