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How to Use Polymarket in the US

Do you know how to use Polymarket in the US? The prediction market site launched in 2020 and caters to crypto users.

After a years-long legal battle, the trading service hopes to accept US-based customers again soon. In this guide, I will break down the basics of the trading site and explain how to use Polymarket in the US.

What is Polymarket?

Polymarket is a crypto-based trading marketplace. It is similar to top sports betting sites, but players do not place traditional bets.

Instead, Polymarket users can buy shares on either side of a given market. Investors on the winning side of the market win a prize based on their stake. The “odds” at Polymarket are decided in large part by the number of investors on either side of the market.

For instance, you can buy shares on whether President Trump will pardon high-profile criminals. Here is how this market compares to a similar one at Bovada.

Criminal Trump Pardons	Polymarket Price Per Share	Bovada Odds
Changpeng Zhao	Yes ($0.28)/ No ($0.75)	Yes (+245)
Ghislaine Maxwell	Yes ($0.168)/ No ($0.842)	Yes (+450)
Roger Ver	Yes ($0.15)/ No ($0.86)	Yes (+525)
Sean “P Diddy” Combs	Yes ($0.12)/ No ($0.89)	Yes (+375)
Julian Assange	Yes ($0.08)/ No ($0.93)	Yes (+1000)

You can wager on “yes” or “no” for every market at Polymarket. However, sportsbooks often do not offer a “no” option for futures like this.

The payouts are different as well. Take Ghislaine Maxwell as an example. Bovada offers a payout of $50 for every $100 you bet on Trump to pardon Maxwell.

On the other hand, Polymarket’s Trump odds offer a payout of $575.62 if you bet $100 at 16.8¢ per share for a Maxwell pardon.

The difference is due in part to the implied win probability. At just over 16 cents per share, Polymarket suggests a 16% chance of Maxwell receiving a pardon. Bovada lists this outcome at +450, suggesting an implied win probability of 18.18%.

Is Polymarket Legal in the US?

Polymarket launched in 2020 and quickly became popular with would-be bettors in states with restrictive gambling laws. However, bettors-turned-investors in the US could not use the platform for long.

In early 2022, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) fined Polymarket $1.4 million for regulatory violations. Despite cooperating with the investigation and paying the fine, Polymarket has been banned in the US since.

However, that is set to change soon. President Trump and his regime have reversed consumer protection regulations and pulled the plug on multiple fraud investigations set in motion by President Biden.

The probe into Polymarket was one of many investigations that Trump ended. Charges against the company were dropped as part of Trump’s rollback on regulations for the crypto industry.

How to Access Polymarket in the US

The investigation is over, for now, but Polymarket is still not legal in the US. For now, you must use a VPN to circumvent the company’s geofencing measures.

Alternatively, you can wait for the company to relaunch its US-based operations.

In July 2025, after all charges against Polymarket were dropped, the company purchased QCEX. Unlike Polymarket, QCEX is licensed by the CFTC as a derivatives exchange and clearing house. Polymarket purchased the company for $112 million.

What Can You Bet on with Polymarket?

Political betting is one of the reasons Polymarket exploded in popularity. However, US politics is not the only thing you can wager on at Polymarket.

Some other popular betting markets at Polymarket include:

• Sports: NFL, MLB, NBA, and the WNBA
• Tech: ChatGPT, OpenAI, and Tesla
• Crypto: Price of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana
• Pop culture: Highest-grossing movies, Nobel Peace Prize, reality TV shows
• Economy: Chance of a US recession, monthly inflation rate, price of eggs

Polymarket even offers a market on whether it will go live in the US in 2025. At the time of writing, Polymarket gives itself a 65% chance of relaunching US operations this year.

It offers a wide selection of sports betting-esque markets, but Polymarket does not have any real-money casino options.

Polymarket Alternatives for US Players

Polymarket is still working its way through the red tape preventing its US operations. On the bright side, there are sports betting and casino sites available to bettors and investors in the US that offer similar markets.

Site	Type of Betting	Welcome Bonus	Payment Options	Available in the US
Polymarket	Prediction markets	N/A	Crypto only	No
Kalshi	Prediction markets	$10 bonus after $100 in trades	Crypto, credit cards, bank transfers	Yes
Bovada	Sportsbook and casino	75% up to $750	Crypto, credit cards, bank transfers, MatchPay	Yes
BetUS	Sportsbook and casino	125% up to $3,750	Crypto, credit cards, bank transfers	Yes
BetOnline	Sportsbook and casino	50% up to $250	Crypto, credit cards, bank transfers, Money orders, Person2Person	Yes

Kalshi

Like Polymarket, Kalshi is not a traditional betting site. Instead, it offers members the chance to purchase shares of yes/no style markets. The price of each share depends on the likelihood of its outcome.

Outcomes that are more likely to happen are more expensive and offer lower payouts.

The site has had its fair share of legal issues, but Kalshi was able to maintain its US operations by obtaining a license from the CFTC in 2020. Kalshi will be one of Polymarket’s biggest competitors when the latter resumes accepting US players.

One of the main differences between Kalshi and Polymarket is that the former offers more payment options. Polymarket only accepts crypto payment options. Kalshi, on the other hand, allows members to deposit with credit cards, bank and wire transfers, and approved crypto.

Find out more with this in-depth look at Kalshi.

Bovada

Another option for betting on markets like those at Polymarket is to use offshore sportsbooks. As mentioned above, Bovada offers similar odds to Polymarket on a variety of markets.

Bovada offers odds on dozens of sports, including the NFL, NBA, and MLB. Also, you can wager on current events, politics, and entertainment markets. The site has a fantastic user interface, and a great prop builder that makes it easy to handcraft your perfect wagers.

New members of Bovada can take advantage of rewarding welcome offers. For instance, crypto users can get a 75% match on their first qualifying deposit. There is a great VIP program, too, called Bovada Rewards that provides exclusive bonuses to loyal members.

Read our Bovada review to learn more about this Polymarket alternative.

BetUS

BetUS is also an option for anyone in the US waiting for Polymarket to resume operations in the US. This sportsbook is an ideal option for bettors who enjoy prop wagers. In addition to mainstream sports, BetUS offers novelty, entertainment, and political odds.

Like Polymarket, BetUS allows members to use a wide variety of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. However, you can also deposit with credit cards and other traditional banking options.

Another thing that sets BetUS apart from Polymarket is the variety of bonus potions available to its members. There are multiple welcome bonuses, as well as thrilling reload offers to ensure you always have bonus funds at your disposal.

Check out our BetUS review for a closer look at this highly-rated sportsbook.

BetOnline

You should also consider using BetOnline if you are looking for a substitute for Polymarket. It has betting lines on top American sports, as well as an extensive entertainment section. You can wager on politics and horse racing as well.

BetOnline has an exciting welcome bonus called the No Strings Welcome Offering. It offers up to $250 in free bets on qualifying first deposits.

The bonuses do not stop there, either. BetOnline’s bonuses reward bettors in the best and worst situations. Bonuses like the NHL Powerplay Payday and the UFC Split Decision Refund help you make big wins even bigger or limit the damage to your bankroll from heartbreak losses.

Also, BetOnline has paid and free sports betting contests that offer thousands in guaranteed prizes. These events allow you to go head-to-head with other bettors by predicting prop wagers on major sporting events.

Our BetOnline review provides a detailed, honest look at this sportsbook for all interested bettors.

Is Polymarket Legit?

Yes, this prediction market betting site is a legitimate option if you know how to use Polymarket in the US. However, until the company resumes operations in the States, you are better off using a different sportsbook for your betting needs.

The good news is that safe betting sites like Bovada are secure options for betting on similar lines to those at Polymarket. Create your account today for a 75% deposit match when you bank with crypto.