UK · Guide
Is Polymarket legal in the UK?
No. Polymarket holds no Gambling Commission licence, and its own geographic restrictions put the United Kingdom among the places where users can close existing positions but can't open new ones. Offering gambling to people in Great Britain without a licence is an offence, and so is advertising it. If you want to trade on elections or other events legally, licensed betting exchanges such as Betfair and Smarkets offer similar markets.
Key takeaways
- Polymarket isn't on the Gambling Commission's register, so it isn't licensed to offer bets to people in Great Britain.
- Polymarket lists the United Kingdom as a close-only jurisdiction: UK users can close positions but can't open new ones.
- Its terms forbid using a VPN or other means to get around its restrictions.
- Licensed betting exchanges offer political and other event markets legally, with a commission on winnings instead of trading fees.
The short answer
No. Polymarket isn’t licensed by the Gambling Commission, and it doesn’t let people in the United Kingdom open positions: its list of geographic restrictions puts the UK among the “close-only” jurisdictions, where users can close existing positions but can’t open new ones. Its terms of use, effective August 11, 2026, also list the United Kingdom among the places from which trading isn’t permitted.
Why it isn’t licensed
Under the Gambling Act 2005, anyone offering gambling to people in Great Britain needs a Commission licence, wherever they’re based, and a bet on whether an event will happen is gambling. Providing facilities for gambling without a licence is an offence under section 33, and advertising unlicensed gambling is one under section 330. Polymarket’s international platform is run by Adventure One QSS Inc. and has no British licence.
VPNs
Polymarket’s terms forbid using a VPN or any other way of getting around its restrictions, and allow it to put a wallet into close-only mode if you do. Using an unlicensed site also means none of the protections of a licensed British operator apply: no GAMSTOP, no stake or deposit-limit rules, and no British regulator to complain to.
What you can use instead
The licensed equivalent in Great Britain is a betting exchange: Betfair, Smarkets and Matchbook let you back or lay outcomes against other users, including on politics, and charge a commission on net winnings. See our ranking of the best betting exchanges in the UK and the wider guide, are prediction markets legal in the UK?
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Polymarket with a VPN in the UK?
Polymarket forbids it: its terms prohibit using a VPN or other measures to get around its restrictions, and say it can put your wallet into close-only mode if you do. It also wouldn't give you any of the protections of a licensed British operator, such as GAMSTOP or the Commission's complaints routes.
Is there a UK alternative to Polymarket?
Yes: licensed betting exchanges such as Betfair and Smarkets offer markets on politics and other events, where you trade against other users. Compare them in our exchange ranking, and work out the commission with our commission calculator.
Can I read Polymarket's odds from the UK?
Yes: its restrictions concern trading, and Polymarket lets people in restricted places view its markets. Reading the prices isn't against the law.
Keep reading
Sources
We verify facts against primary sources (regulators, court records, operators’ own terms) wherever possible.
- Geographic restrictions — Polymarket , accessed 2026-10-22
- Polymarket Terms of Use — Adventure One QSS Inc. , effective 2026-08-11
- Download the register of gambling businesses — Gambling Commission , files of 2026-10-22
- Gambling Act 2005, sections 33 and 330 — legislation.gov.uk , up to date to 2026-10-22