Polymarket legal in the US has changed significantly as of December 1, 2025. The platform recently secured amended approval from U.S. regulators that enables regulated, intermediated trading for American users—but only under strict conditions that include using registered brokerages.
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What just happened
In late November 2025, Polymarket completed a regulatory overhaul to meet U.S. compliance standards. It acquired a properly licensed derivatives exchange and revamped its infrastructure to satisfy the requirements of U.S. derivatives regulation. That cleared the way for the platform to seek approval for regulated access under U.S. law. As a result, U.S.-based customers may soon be able to access Polymarket markets through broker-dealers who are themselves registered and compliant.
At present, Polymarket does not permit direct, unmediated trading from U.S. users. The renewed regulatory status allows only intermediated access—meaning U.S. investors will need to go through regulated brokers who manage custody, compliance, and reporting. Technical upgrades, compliance testing, and broker integrations remain ongoing.
How it works in practice
- Intermediated trading only: U.S. users cannot simply sign up directly on Polymarket and trade as before. Instead, they must use a broker-dealer registered with U.S. regulators.
- Regulatory compliance and reporting: The platform has built systems for required transaction reporting, surveillance, clearing, and record-keeping in line with U.S. derivatives rules.
- Rollout depends on completion of testing: Polymarket must finalize technical testing and broker integrations before widespread access resumes for U.S. traders.
Polymarket’s journey: from enforcement to compliance
| Year | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Enforcement action led to a civil penalty and the platform restricted U.S. user access | Highlighted regulatory risks for unregulated prediction markets |
| 2024–2025 | Polymarket actively pursued compliance: it acquired a regulated exchange and restructured its operations | Demonstrated intent to operate lawfully within U.S. regulations |
| Mid-2025 | Completed required corporate and compliance changes for U.S. re-entry | Set regulatory groundwork for approval |
| November 2025 | Received amended designation allowing regulated, intermediated U.S. access | Cleared legal obstacles for future U.S. trading |
This shift marks a significant transformation from a once-unregulated offshore model to a structure built around compliance, transparency, and oversight.
What U.S. users can — and cannot — do now
What users can do:
- Prepare to trade through regulated brokerages.
- Monitor official announcements for which brokers will support Polymarket.
- Consider potential for both retail and institutional access if brokers adopt the platform.
What users cannot do yet:
- Create new accounts directly on Polymarket for immediate trading.
- Assume that all contracts, markets, or bet types will be available at launch.
- Expect broader access until technical tests and regulatory reporting systems are fully vetted and live.
Regulatory context: why this matters
Prediction markets such as Polymarket often involve event-based contracts that can resemble binary options or derivatives. Under U.S. law, certain event contracts fall under the jurisdiction of federal regulators. By securing an appropriate regulatory designation, Polymarket now sits within the official framework for derivatives trading. This status subjects it to ongoing oversight, reporting obligations, and compliance standards.
That new structure aims to reduce legal risk and offer a regulated environment where consumers can participate with more transparency and protections than previously existed.
What this means for the market and industry
Polymarket’s return under full U.S. regulatory oversight signals growing institutional acceptance for prediction markets. It may pave the way for other similar platforms to seek compliance and oversight. With Polymarket establishing itself firmly in compliance mode, investors and institutions might view prediction markets in a new light—less as fringe offshore platforms and more as regulated financial tools.
At the same time, the reliance on registered brokerages means that growth may be gradual. Adoption will depend heavily on how many brokers choose to support Polymarket, and whether they offer markets attractive enough to draw retail interest. The landscape may also shift if regulators or state-level authorities weigh in on how certain event contracts should be classified under securities or gambling laws.
Key facts at a glance
- Polymarket now has regulatory clearance for intermediated U.S. market access under amended designation as of late November 2025.
- U.S. users must trade through registered broker-dealers; direct offshore-style access remains unavailable.
- The company implemented required systems for reporting, surveillance, clearing, and record-keeping.
- Full access for the broader U.S. public depends on completion of technical tests and broker integrations.
- This regulatory change marks a major turning point from the platform’s 2022 enforcement and U.S. exit.
What to watch next
- Watch for announcements naming specific U.S.-registered brokerages that will support Polymarket.
- Pay attention to public confirmations of technical and reporting compliance before full rollout.
- Monitor any state-level or legal developments that might affect classification of certain events or markets (e.g. political forecasting, sports-related events).
- Review the categories of markets offered at launch; not all previous market types may return immediately.
What this means for American users
If you’re based in the U.S. and interested in prediction markets, the latest developments make Polymarket a viable, regulated option — albeit one with structured access through brokerages. The regulated framework could offer better oversight, transparency, and protection. If brokers begin supporting the platform widely, both retail and professional traders may benefit. Until then, interested users should follow Polymarket’s updates and await broker-dealer announcements.
Bottom line: Polymarket legal in the US now — but only under a regulated, intermediated model. As long as you use a compliant broker-dealer and wait for proper rollout, the platform stands on firm legal footing in the U.S.
Let me know below how you feel about prediction markets coming back under regulation — and what kinds of markets you’d like to see when Polymarket reopens in the U.S.