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
Federal status
A contract market by the CFTC on July 9, 2025
Source
Switched off
Nevada
Supreme Court
Three petitions, none granted
Source
Next date
Nov 9, 2026: Kalshi's response to New Jersey's petition is due.
Source

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, 2026

Nevada

Switched off

A 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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
DateStateActionStatus nowFiling
Jan 16, 2026NevadaLawsuit. 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 1BSwitched offFiling
Apr 23, 2026WisconsinLawsuit. Wisconsin Department of Justice: Public-nuisance suit against Blockratize, QCX LLC (Polymarket US) and QC Clearing. Dane County Circuit CourtCase pendingFiling
Jun 17, 2026KentuckyLawsuit. Kentucky Attorney General: Suit against QCX LLC (Polymarket US), Blockratize, QC Clearing and QC Tech. Franklin Circuit CourtCase pendingFiling
Aug 13, 2026MarylandLawsuit. City of Baltimore: Consumer-protection suit against QCX LLC (Polymarket US), Blockratize and QC Tech. Circuit Court for Baltimore City, No. C-24-CV-26-005535Case pendingFiling
Sep 24, 2026New YorkLawsuit. New York Attorney General: Petition against QCX LLC (Polymarket US) under Executive Law § 63(12). New York County Supreme CourtCase pendingFiling
UndatedRhode IslandLawsuit. Rhode Island Attorney General: Suit against KalshiEX and QCX LLC (Polymarket US). Providence County Superior Court, No. PC-2026-2753Case pendingFiling
6 actions by a state or city against Polymarket, oldest first. Status now is the state’s group on Oct 16, 2026.

Where Polymarket went to court first

StateCaseDocket
MichiganQCX LLC v. NesselU.S. District Court, W.D. Mich., No. 1:26-cv-00710Docket
MinnesotaQCX LLC v. EllisonU.S. District Court, D. Minn., No. 0:26-cv-02841Docket
Polymarket asking a federal court to stop a state enforcing its gambling law. These cases switch nothing off.

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.

CourtRulingWhere it standsSource
Ninth CircuitAK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, WANo decision yetPolymarket'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, TNNo decision yetPolymarket US's appeal of the Michigan injunction denial (No. 26-1552) is pending. No decision yet.Docket
Federal appeals courts that have a Polymarket case. A ruling binds the federal courts in the states it covers.

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, 2026
    Flaherty 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, 2026
    Robinhood 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, 2026
    North 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

  • Nov 9, 2026 Kalshi's response to New Jersey's petition is due. Docket
  • Nov 13, 2026 Nevada's response to Robinhood's petition is due. Docket
  • Nov 16, 2026 Nevada's response to Crypto.com's petition is due. After briefing, the justices decide whether to take any of the three. Docket

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.

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.

  1. NGCB files civil enforcement action against PolymarketNevada Gaming Control Board · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  2. 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
  3. Order granting motion to remand, ECF 41U.S. District Court, D. Nev. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  4. Order denying stay pending appeal, Nevada v. BlockratizeU.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  5. NGCB provides enforcement litigation updateNevada Gaming Control Board · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  6. Attorney General Ford announces preliminary injunction in prediction market case Nevada Attorney General · Checked October 16, 2026
  7. Polymarket's motion to reconsider abeyance order, Dkt. 27U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  8. Complaint, QCX LLC v. Nessel, ECF 1U.S. District Court, W.D. Mich. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
Show all 35 documents
  1. Opinion and order denying temporary restraining order, ECF 17U.S. District Court, W.D. Mich. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  2. Opinion and order denying preliminary injunction, ECF 41U.S. District Court, W.D. Mich. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  3. QCX LLC v. Nessel, district docket U.S. District Court, W.D. Mich. · Checked October 16, 2026
  4. Order staying case pending appeal, ECF 48U.S. District Court, W.D. Mich. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  5. KalshiEX v. Schuler, published opinionU.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  6. Order on plaintiffs’ motions for preliminary injunction, Doc. 51U.S. District Court, D. Minn. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  7. Wisconsin DOJ files lawsuits against sports betting prediction markets Wisconsin Department of Justice · Checked October 16, 2026
  8. Complaint to abate public nuisance, Wisconsin v. Blockratize (Dane County)Wisconsin Department of Justice · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  9. Notice of removal, Wisconsin v. QCX, ECF 1U.S. District Court, W.D. Wis. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  10. Notice of removal, Rhode Island v. KalshiEX and QCX, ECF 1U.S. District Court, D.R.I. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  11. Consent motion to consolidate, ECF 26U.S. District Court, D.R.I. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  12. 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
  13. Attorney General Coleman sues Kalshi, Polymarket and VGW Kentucky Attorney General · Checked October 16, 2026
  14. Report and recommendation on motion to remand, ECF 41U.S. District Court, E.D. Ky. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  15. Complaint, City of Baltimore v. QCX LLC (Baltimore City Circuit Court)Circuit Court for Baltimore City · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  16. Notice of removal, City of Baltimore v. QCX, ECF 1U.S. District Court, D. Md. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  17. Order extending remand briefing deadlines, ECF 25U.S. District Court, D. Md. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  18. Attorney General James and Governor Hochul announce lawsuit against Polymarket New York Attorney General · Checked October 16, 2026
  19. Verified petition, People v. QCX LLC (New York County Supreme Court)New York Attorney General · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  20. Notice of removal, James v. QCX LLC, ECF 1U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  21. Order, ECF 7U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  22. Order, ECF 18U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y. · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  23. Order of Designation, QCX LLCCommodity Futures Trading Commission · Checked October 16, 2026Our copy
  24. QCX LLC v. Nessel, Sixth Circuit docket U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit · Checked October 16, 2026
  25. Supreme Court docket, No. 26-299 Supreme Court of the United States · Checked October 12, 2026
  26. Supreme Court docket, No. 26-338 Supreme Court of the United States · Checked October 12, 2026
  27. 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.

Get started