Polymarket is the largest prediction market in the world, but it isn't available everywhere. Over the past two years the list of countries where it's blocked or trade-restricted has grown, and it now includes some of the regions with the highest interest in prediction trading — the UK, Australia, France and others. This guide explains where Polymarket is restricted and why, how its geo-blocking actually works, what people in those regions do to access it, and what's good to know before you try.
Where Polymarket is restricted (and why)
Restrictions come from three different places, and which one applies to your country tells you a lot:
- Gambling regulation. Most blocked countries got there because a national regulator classified prediction markets as unlicensed betting. In Europe that includes the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Poland, the Netherlands and Portugal; in Asia-Pacific, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Australia. Argentina joined in 2026. Some are full blocks; others — like Germany or France — let you view markets but not place trades.
- International sanctions. Polymarket now operates as a US-regulated entity, so it blocks OFAC-sanctioned jurisdictions outright — Russia, Belarus, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba and others. These blocks are the hardest and least likely to change.
- The United States — a special case, covered in the next section.
The list isn't static. Regulators keep adding countries, so the single most reliable source is Polymarket's own geographic-restrictions page — check it before you deposit anything.
The US is now different
For years the US was Polymarket's biggest blocked market. That changed in late 2025: after acquiring a CFTC-licensed exchange, Polymarket relaunched a fully regulated US platform, and Americans can now legally trade event contracts under CFTC oversight. The catch is that the US version requires identity verification (KYC) and runs through a regulated, intermediated structure rather than a direct wallet connection — and a handful of states are still contesting it. The takeaway: if you're in the US, you don't need any workaround. You use the regulated Polymarket US product.
How geo-blocking actually works
Polymarket's restrictions are enforced by IP-based geo-blocking. When you open the site, it checks your IP against a blocked-country list, and if you're in a restricted region the trading interface simply won't load. Crucially, blocking is based on your physical location — not your citizenship or residency. That's why someone who normally lives in a blocked country can trade legitimately while physically travelling in an allowed one. Worth knowing, though: in 2026 Polymarket tightened its monitoring and now looks at more than just your IP address.
Accessing from a restricted region: what people actually do
Availability depends on where you physically are — Polymarket checks location, not citizenship, so someone who normally lives in a restricted country can trade legitimately while travelling in a region where the platform is available. Some users rely on proxy services in that context.
Because Polymarket’s crypto Up/Down markets can resolve in as little as 5–15 minutes, a stable, low-latency connection genuinely matters for getting your order filled at the price you want — wherever you’re trading from.
In short: a reliable, low-latency connection is what most regular users prioritise — smoother to use and better for time-sensitive markets.
Good to know before you start
A couple of practical points, so you can decide with a clear picture:
- Availability is determined by your physical location, so it is worth checking Polymarket’s current geographic-restrictions page before depositing.
- As with any online platform, it's sensible not to keep more on it than you'd be comfortable leaving there for a while.
- Rules around prediction markets vary from country to country, so it's worth a quick look at where you stand locally.
None of this stops the many people who use Polymarket from restricted regions every day. Keep your setup consistent and your expectations sensible, and you'll be in good shape.
How to get started
If Polymarket is available where you are — or you're legitimately in an allowed location — getting started takes only a few minutes:
- Set up a Polygon-compatible crypto wallet.
- Fund it with USDC.
- Connect it to Polymarket, and you're ready to trade.
This article is for information only and is not legal advice. Rules around prediction markets and VPN use vary by country and change frequently. Always check the laws in your own jurisdiction and Polymarket's current official geographic-restrictions page before depositing or trading.
