Is Polymarket Legal in Australia? Blocked — Updated 2026

Quick Answer: No, Polymarket is blocked in Australia. Australian gambling law, enforced by ACMA, prevents Polymarket from operating in the country.

Polymarket Status in Australia

❌ Blocked — Polymarket is geo-blocked in Australia as of April 2026. Australian IP addresses are prevented from accessing the trading interface.

Australia has some of the strictest online gambling regulations in the developed world, and Polymarket falls under these rules. The platform is treated as an unlicensed gambling operator and is blocked accordingly.

Why Polymarket Is Blocked in Australia

Australia's blocking of Polymarket is driven by its existing gambling law framework:

• Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) — This federal law prohibits online gambling services from being offered to Australian residents unless licensed under Australian law
• ACMA enforcement — The Australian Communications and Media Authority has the power to order ISPs to block unlicensed gambling websites and can request platforms to geo-block Australian users
• No Australian gambling license — Polymarket does not hold a license from any Australian state or territory gambling regulator
• Broad definition of gambling — Australian law defines gambling to include wagering on the outcome of events, which covers prediction markets
• Website blocking powers — Since 2017, ACMA has had strengthened powers to block unlicensed gambling websites, and has used them against hundreds of platforms

Australia's Gambling Regulation History

Australia tightened its online gambling regulations significantly with the Interactive Gambling Amendment Act 2017, granting ACMA the ability to block websites and issue formal warnings to operators. Since then, ACMA has blocked over 1,000 illegal gambling websites. Polymarket was added to this growing list as prediction markets gained mainstream visibility in 2024.

What Australian Users Should Know

Legal Consequences

Australia takes enforcement seriously:

• ACMA website blocking — ISP-level blocks are in place for Polymarket
• Polymarket's own geo-block — The platform also blocks Australian IP addresses
• VPN circumvention risks — While using a VPN is not itself illegal in Australia, using one to access an ACMA-blocked gambling service carries regulatory risk
• Violates Polymarket ToS — Account suspension and fund freezing are possible
• No consumer protection — Australian consumer protection laws do not apply to unlicensed offshore platforms

Alternatives for Australian Users

Australians have several regulated options:

• Sportsbet — Licensed Australian operator offering event-based betting on politics and current affairs
• Betfair Australia — Exchange-based betting licensed by the Northern Territory Racing Commission
• TAB — Australia's traditional totalisator agency with some event markets
• Manifold Markets — Play-money prediction market accessible globally
• ASX derivatives — For exposure to economic or financial event outcomes through regulated financial instruments

For Australians Traveling Overseas

If you are an Australian resident or citizen traveling to a country where Polymarket is available:

• You can access Polymarket from that location
• Your positions on the blockchain remain intact regardless of where you are
• Be aware that Australian tax obligations (including CGT on crypto gains) may apply even while overseas
• Australia has no exit-based restrictions on accessing overseas platforms while traveling

Tax Implications

Even if an Australian did access Polymarket (from a trip overseas, for example), the ATO treats crypto gains as taxable events. The Capital Gains Tax (CGT) framework applies, and you must declare gains from crypto trading on your tax return.

Will Polymarket Become Available in Australia?

Potential paths to availability:

• Polymarket obtaining an Australian gambling license from a state or territory regulator
• A legislative change exempting prediction markets from the IGA
• A separate regulatory framework being created for crypto-based prediction markets

Given Australia's strong track record of enforcing online gambling restrictions, none of these outcomes appear likely in the near future.

Full Country Availability List

See the full breakdown in our Polymarket Restricted Countries List.

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