Polymarket alternatives

Polymarket alternatives in United States

Polymarket status in United States:Restricted

Is Polymarket legal in United States?

Quick answer

Polymarket is partially available in the United States after the 2024 CFTC settlement. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission lets Polymarket offer certain event contracts to US persons, but state-level rules and individual market categories still produce a patchwork. Some traders without local access reach blocked categories via VPN, Polymarket's ToS gray zone applies the same way it does elsewhere.

Available alternatives in United States

Platform	Status	Notes
Kalshi CFTC-regulated US exchange; USD settlement, KYC required.	Available	CFTC-regulated US exchange. Native US dollar settlement and full KYC, the clean choice for US residents.
Manifold Play-money prediction market, no real cash, free to use globally.	Available	—
PredictIt Academic political prediction market run by Victoria University of Wellington.	Restricted	Academic markets, capped positions.
Limitless Newer on-chain prediction market on Base; lower fees, smaller volume.	Available	—
Smarkets UK-licensed betting exchange with political and event markets.	Blocked	UK-licensed; not served in the US.

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Regulatory context

CFTCCommodity Futures Trading Commission

The CFTC regulates US derivatives markets and event contracts. Its 2024 settlement with Polymarket sets the framework under which the platform may offer certain markets to US persons, with category-level restrictions evolving over time.

Official source: cftc.gov

About VPN access

Does it work with a VPN?

Yes, but it's a gray zone. A VPN swaps your IP, which is what Polymarket's geo-block reads. The platform doesn't endorse it. For something that works natively from United States without a workaround, the two platforms below are the cleaner path.

Natively accessible

Other platforms in United States

Common questions

Is Polymarket legal in United States?

What's the best Polymarket alternative in United States?

Kalshi, CFTC-regulated US exchange; USD settlement, KYC required. It works natively from United States and is the cleanest fallback when Polymarket isn't an option.

How does Polymarket settle trades?

In USDC on Polygon. Each market resolves YES or NO based on a UMA-coordinated oracle. Winning shares pay $1 USDC per share; losing shares are worthless. Withdrawals back to fiat happen via your own off-ramp.

Does Polymarket require KYC?

Lightweight by default, connect a wallet and start trading. Larger deposits and certain market categories trigger an in-flow KYC step. Restricted-jurisdiction residents are blocked at IP level before reaching the KYC funnel.

Is Polymarket legal in the United States in 2026?

Partially. After the November 2024 CFTC settlement, Polymarket may offer certain event contracts to US persons. Specific markets remain off-limits depending on category and state, and the exact list shifts over time. Check Polymarket directly for the current allowed catalog from your IP.

Should I use Kalshi or Polymarket in the US?

Kalshi is the regulated default, CFTC-licensed, USD settlement, simpler tax reporting. Polymarket has broader market coverage and crypto-native settlement but a narrower US-accessible catalog. Most US traders end up using both.

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