Is Polymarket Legal in the UK? Blocked — Updated 2026

Quick Answer: No, Polymarket is blocked in the United Kingdom. The UK Gambling Commission considers Polymarket an unlicensed gambling operator, and the platform geo-blocks British IP addresses.

Polymarket Status in the UK

❌ Blocked — Polymarket is geo-blocked in the United Kingdom as of April 2026. Users connecting from UK IP addresses cannot access the trading interface.

The UK was among the earliest countries to see Polymarket blocked. Given the Gambling Commission's broad authority over all forms of wagering available to British consumers, the block was widely anticipated once Polymarket grew in prominence during the 2024 U.S. presidential election cycle.

Why Polymarket Is Blocked in the UK

The block stems from the UK's well-established gambling regulatory framework:

• Gambling Commission — The UK's gambling regulator requires any platform offering gambling services to UK consumers to hold a valid UKGC license. Polymarket holds no such license
• Gambling Act 2005 — This legislation defines gambling broadly, covering betting on the outcome of events, which includes prediction markets
• Unlicensed operator classification — The Gambling Commission treats Polymarket as an unlicensed gambling operator, making it illegal for British residents to use
• Consumer protection mandate — The UKGC actively monitors and blocks unlicensed platforms to protect UK consumers
• IP-based geo-blocking — Polymarket has implemented blocking of UK IP addresses

How the UK Differs from the US Approach

While the CFTC in the United States has debated whether prediction markets are financial instruments or gambling, the UK Gambling Commission takes a clearer position: wagering on event outcomes falls squarely under gambling law. This leaves little room for Polymarket to operate in the UK without obtaining a UKGC license, which requires meeting stringent requirements around responsible gambling, anti-money laundering, and player protection.

What UK Users Should Know

VPN Risks

Attempting to access Polymarket with a VPN from the UK carries real downsides:

• Violates Polymarket's Terms of Service — Accounts may be suspended and funds frozen
• Potential legal risk — Participating in unlicensed gambling is an offence under UK law
• No recourse — UK consumer protection does not extend to unlicensed platforms
• Detection — Polymarket can flag accounts that switch between UK and non-UK IP addresses

Alternatives for UK Users

The UK has several licensed options for event-based trading:

• Smarkets — A UKGC-licensed prediction market exchange offering political, sports, and current affairs markets
• Betfair Exchange — UKGC-licensed exchange where users can back and lay outcomes on events
• Manifold Markets — Play-money prediction market with no geo-restrictions
• Spread betting — UK-regulated spread betting providers like IG and CMC Markets offer event-linked products

If You Are Traveling from the UK

If you hold Polymarket positions from a period when you had access (or from another country):

• Your blockchain-based positions remain intact regardless of your location
• You will not be able to access the Polymarket interface while in the UK
• Manage your portfolio before entering the UK
• VPN access from the UK violates the platform's ToS

Will Polymarket Become Available in the UK?

Possible paths to UK availability include:

• Polymarket applying for and obtaining a UKGC gambling license (a rigorous process with extensive compliance requirements)
• The UK creating a separate regulatory category for prediction markets (the Financial Conduct Authority and Gambling Commission would need to coordinate)
• A broader shift in how prediction markets are classified at a regulatory level

None of these developments appear likely in the short term. The UK's mature gambling regulatory framework moves cautiously, and there is no public indication of any licensing discussions.

Full Country Availability List

See which countries can access Polymarket in our Polymarket Restricted Countries List.

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