PolymarketLegal
Is Polymarket legal in your state?
As of Oct 16, 2026, no state has switched Polymarket off entirely. Courts have switched off some of its markets in Nevada. In 7 more states a lawsuit, ruling or cease-and-desist is live, but nothing is switched off.
By Owen Monagan, Founder & CEOUpdated
Polymarket by state
Checked Oct 16, 2026- Switched off
- 1
- Ordered, on hold
- 0
- Case pending
- 7
- No action found
- 43
- Switched off
- Nevada
Map
Every state, dated.
Every state sits in one of four groups. Select a state for what is switched off there and the order behind it.
Every state action here names QCX LLC, the exchange that trades as Polymarket US and that the CFTC designated a contract market in July 2025. Several also name its parent, Blockratize. The international site, polymarket.com, is a separate product and lists the whole US as close-only: people in the US can close positions on the international site but not open new ones.
Polymarket, state by state
As of Oct 16, 2026Nevada
Switched offA preliminary injunction is in force against Polymarket US, which the Nevada attorney general says covers sports, election and entertainment contracts.
- Switched off
- 1
- A court order is in force that bars the company from offering the covered markets in the state.
- Ordered, on hold
- 0
- The order is paused while the appeal is heard.
- Case pending
- 7
- A lawsuit, ruling or cease-and-desist is live. No order is in force.
- No action found
- 43
- We found no order, lawsuit or cease-and-desist against Polymarket here.
Polymarket event contracts, state by state: the CFTC-registered US exchange (QCX LLC, d/b/a Polymarket US) and, where an order names it, the international Polymarket. What a court or regulator has actually done, as it stands on the date above. Tiles are equal in size so a small state reads as clearly as a large one. The state list below holds the same data as text.
Lawsuits6 actions
What states have sued Polymarket?
As of Oct 16, 2026, five states and the City of Baltimore have taken Polymarket US to court, and Polymarket US has sued two states itself. Only an order in force switches anything off, and Nevada’s is the only one we have found.
- 01A state or city sues Polymarket USAn attorney general, a gaming regulator or, in Baltimore, the city goes to state court. Nevada’s is the case that produced an order now in force.
- 02Polymarket US sues firstPolymarket US asks a federal court to stop a state’s officials enforcing state law against it, as it did in Michigan and Minnesota.
- 03The case changes courtPolymarket moved each state-court suit to federal court. Nevada’s was sent back; several wait on a ruling about which court hears them. A move switches nothing off.
| Date | State | Action | Status now | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 16, 2026 | Nevada | Lawsuit. Nevada Gaming Control Board: Civil enforcement action against Blockratize, QCX LLC (Polymarket US) and Adventure One QSS. First Judicial District Court, Carson City, No. 26 OC 00012 1B | Switched off | Filing |
| Apr 23, 2026 | Wisconsin | Lawsuit. Wisconsin Department of Justice: Public-nuisance suit against Blockratize, QCX LLC (Polymarket US) and QC Clearing. Dane County Circuit Court | Case pending | Filing |
| Jun 17, 2026 | Kentucky | Lawsuit. Kentucky Attorney General: Suit against QCX LLC (Polymarket US), Blockratize, QC Clearing and QC Tech. Franklin Circuit Court | Case pending | Filing |
| Aug 13, 2026 | Maryland | Lawsuit. City of Baltimore: Consumer-protection suit against QCX LLC (Polymarket US), Blockratize and QC Tech. Circuit Court for Baltimore City, No. C-24-CV-26-005535 | Case pending | Filing |
| Sep 24, 2026 | New York | Lawsuit. New York Attorney General: Petition against QCX LLC (Polymarket US) under Executive Law § 63(12). New York County Supreme Court | Case pending | Filing |
| Undated | Rhode Island | Lawsuit. Rhode Island Attorney General: Suit against KalshiEX and QCX LLC (Polymarket US). Providence County Superior Court, No. PC-2026-2753 | Case pending | Filing |
Where Polymarket went to court first
Two of these cases run alongside Kalshi’s. In Minnesota, the preliminary injunction covers suits by Polymarket US, Kalshi and the CFTC together. In Rhode Island, the state’s case against Polymarket US was combined with Kalshi’s own suit against the state’s regulators.
Your money
What a state order means for your account.
Nevada’s order bars Polymarket US from offering the covered contracts there. We haven’t found the written injunction’s terms on withdrawals or open positions.
What each order says
Read Oct 16, 2026- Withdraw your cash
- Not verified
- Close open positions
- Not verified
- New trades
- Blocked
- Deposits
- Not stated
- Money back to users
- Not stated
From each order’s text where we hold it; “Not verified” marks a written order we haven’t retrieved. Each state page quotes the order line by line.
Wherever you are
- Polymarket US is run by QCX LLC, which the CFTC designated a contract market (a federally regulated exchange) in July 2025. Source
Courts
Where the courts stand.
Whether federal commodities law preempts state gambling law is unresolved. Each federal appeals court with a Polymarket case, and the Supreme Court dates ahead.
| Court | Ruling | Where it stands | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninth CircuitAK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA | No decision yet | Polymarket's appeal of the order sending Nevada's case back to state court (No. 26-1343) is on hold behind three other Nevada appeals, Kalshi's among them. On May 21 the court denied Polymarket's request to pause that order while it appeals. | Docket |
| Sixth CircuitKY, MI, OH, TN | No decision yet | Polymarket US's appeal of the Michigan injunction denial (No. 26-1552) is pending. No decision yet. | Docket |
At the Supreme Court
Who gets to regulate sports contracts on a federally registered exchange: only the federal regulator, or the states too? The Court is being asked whether federal commodities law preempts state gambling laws, not whether anyone must stop, and not how the trades are taxed.
- No. 26-299Filed Sep 2, 2026Flaherty v. KalshiEXNew Jersey (state gaming regulators). From the Third Circuit, No. 25-1922, decided Apr 6, 2026, which held Kalshi likely to succeed in showing that federal law preempts New Jersey's ban on its sports contracts.Kalshi's response is due Nov 9, 2026, extended at Kalshi's request from Oct 8. Amicus briefs were filed on Oct 7 and Oct 8; the docket lists them.Docket
- No. 26-338Filed Sep 10, 2026Robinhood Derivatives v. DreitzerRobinhood (a broker offering Kalshi's contracts). From the Ninth Circuit, No. 25-7831, decided Aug 28, 2026, which held that sports contracts likely aren't swaps.Nevada's response is due Nov 13, 2026, extended from Oct 14.Docket
- No. 26-344Filed Sep 11, 2026North American Derivatives Exchange v. NevadaCrypto.com (another exchange). From the Ninth Circuit, No. 25-7187, decided Aug 28, 2026, which held that sports contracts likely aren't swaps.Nevada's response is due Nov 16, 2026, extended at Nevada's request from Oct 15.Docket
Dates ahead
A state court order about gaming licensing isn't a ruling on how trades are taxed. There is no IRS guidance on event contracts. Polymarket is not a party to any of the petitions; Kalshi at the Supreme Court follows them.
State by state8 states with a case
Every state with a case.
Switched-off and on-hold states first. Eight states have a page of their own, with the order’s words and every ruling in order.
- Polymarket in NevadaSwitched off A preliminary injunction is in force against Polymarket US, which the Nevada attorney general says covers sports, election and entertainment contracts. Since Jan 29, 2026 Since Jan 29, 2026
- Polymarket in KentuckyCase pending Kentucky has sued. No order in force. Checked Oct 16, 2026 Checked Oct 16, 2026
- Polymarket in MarylandCase pending The City of Baltimore has sued. No order in force. Checked Oct 16, 2026 Checked Oct 16, 2026
- Polymarket in MichiganCase pending Polymarket US sued Michigan; the court denied its request for an injunction. No order in force. Checked Oct 16, 2026 Checked Oct 16, 2026
- Polymarket in MinnesotaCase pending A federal court barred Minnesota from enforcing its prediction market law against CFTC-registered exchanges. No order in force. Checked Oct 16, 2026 Checked Oct 16, 2026
- Polymarket in New YorkCase pending New York has sued. No order in force. Checked Oct 16, 2026 Checked Oct 16, 2026
- Polymarket in Rhode IslandCase pending Rhode Island has sued. No order in force. Checked Oct 16, 2026 Checked Oct 16, 2026
- Polymarket in WisconsinCase pending Wisconsin has sued. No order in force. Checked Oct 16, 2026 Checked Oct 16, 2026
Other states with a case
Case pending| State | Where it stands |
|---|
Sources35 documents
Where each status comes from.
Primary documents first, each with the date we last read it. Where we keep a copy of a filing, it is linked beside the original.
- NGCB files civil enforcement action against PolymarketNevada Gaming Control Board · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Temporary Restraining Order, Nevada v. Blockratize (state-court orders as filed on removal, ECF 2-4)First Judicial District Court, Carson City · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Order granting motion to remand, ECF 41U.S. District Court, D. Nev. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Order denying stay pending appeal, Nevada v. BlockratizeU.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- NGCB provides enforcement litigation updateNevada Gaming Control Board · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Attorney General Ford announces preliminary injunction in prediction market case Nevada Attorney General · Checked October 16, 2026
- Polymarket's motion to reconsider abeyance order, Dkt. 27U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Complaint, QCX LLC v. Nessel, ECF 1U.S. District Court, W.D. Mich. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
Show all 35 documentsShow fewer
- Opinion and order denying temporary restraining order, ECF 17U.S. District Court, W.D. Mich. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Opinion and order denying preliminary injunction, ECF 41U.S. District Court, W.D. Mich. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- QCX LLC v. Nessel, district docket U.S. District Court, W.D. Mich. · Checked October 16, 2026
- Order staying case pending appeal, ECF 48U.S. District Court, W.D. Mich. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- KalshiEX v. Schuler, published opinionU.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Order on plaintiffs’ motions for preliminary injunction, Doc. 51U.S. District Court, D. Minn. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Wisconsin DOJ files lawsuits against sports betting prediction markets Wisconsin Department of Justice · Checked October 16, 2026
- Complaint to abate public nuisance, Wisconsin v. Blockratize (Dane County)Wisconsin Department of Justice · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Notice of removal, Wisconsin v. QCX, ECF 1U.S. District Court, W.D. Wis. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Notice of removal, Rhode Island v. KalshiEX and QCX, ECF 1U.S. District Court, D.R.I. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Consent motion to consolidate, ECF 26U.S. District Court, D.R.I. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- QCX LLC notice of supplemental authority in support of its motion for preliminary injunction, ECF 41U.S. District Court, D.R.I. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Attorney General Coleman sues Kalshi, Polymarket and VGW Kentucky Attorney General · Checked October 16, 2026
- Report and recommendation on motion to remand, ECF 41U.S. District Court, E.D. Ky. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Complaint, City of Baltimore v. QCX LLC (Baltimore City Circuit Court)Circuit Court for Baltimore City · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Notice of removal, City of Baltimore v. QCX, ECF 1U.S. District Court, D. Md. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Order extending remand briefing deadlines, ECF 25U.S. District Court, D. Md. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Attorney General James and Governor Hochul announce lawsuit against Polymarket New York Attorney General · Checked October 16, 2026
- Verified petition, People v. QCX LLC (New York County Supreme Court)New York Attorney General · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Notice of removal, James v. QCX LLC, ECF 1U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Order, ECF 7U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Order, ECF 18U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- Order of Designation, QCX LLCCommodity Futures Trading Commission · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
- QCX LLC v. Nessel, Sixth Circuit docket U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit · Checked October 16, 2026
- Supreme Court docket, No. 26-299 Supreme Court of the United States · Checked October 12, 2026
- Supreme Court docket, No. 26-338 Supreme Court of the United States · Checked October 12, 2026
- Supreme Court docket, No. 26-344 Supreme Court of the United States · Checked October 12, 2026
Also on Realize
Where your year stands.
An order changes where Polymarket US can offer a market. It is not a tax ruling.
Price your Polymarket year three common ways.
Connect Polymarket read-only for a free estimate under each treatment.