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      Polymarket Review 2026: Polymarket US Legality, Fees & App

      Rating: 4.7 /5
      Deposit Duration: instant
      Payout Duration: instant
      Educational Videos: yes
      Email: hey@polymarket.com

      Polymarket is legal in the US through Polymarket US, an app run by QCX LLC, a CFTC-designated contract market. You trade Yes/No event contracts priced from $0.01 to $0.99, makers pay no fee, takers pay a small price-based fee, and deposits and withdrawals are free. Availability depends on your state.

      Polymarket at a glance

      Polymarket US is a CFTC-regulated exchange where you buy Yes or No event contracts that pay $1 if you are right. The table below sums up the key facts from this Polymarket review, from regulation and fees to payments and support, so you can check the essentials before signing up.

      Feature Polymarket US
      Operator QCX LLC d/b/a Polymarket US
      Regulator CFTC (Designated Contract Market since July 2025)
      Clearing Polymarket Clearing
      Contract prices $0.01 to $0.99, pays $1.00 if correct
      Trading fees Taker fee up to about $1.74 per 100 contracts; no maker fee
      Deposit and withdrawal fees None charged by Polymarket US
      Welcome offer Deposit $10, get a $25 trading bonus
      Minimum age 18+

      How does Polymarket work?

      Polymarket works as a peer-to-peer exchange: you trade against other users, not a house. Each event contract asks a Yes/No question and trades between $0.01 and $0.99. The price reflects the market's view of the probability, and a correct contract pays $1.00 at settlement, while a wrong one pays nothing.

      If you are new to the format, start with our guide to what is event trading. On Polymarket, prices move through a central limit order book, so the platform does not set odds. Buyers and sellers do.

      A quick example

      A contract on "Will the Chiefs win Sunday?" trades at $0.65. That means the market sees a 65% chance. Buy 100 Yes contracts for $65 plus the taker fee. If the Chiefs win, you receive $100. If they lose, the contracts expire worthless. You can also sell before the game ends to lock in a profit or cut a loss. Our guide on how to read market prices explains the math.

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      Polymarket US vs. the international Polymarket

      Polymarket US and the international Polymarket are separate platforms. The US app is a regulated exchange with full identity checks and dollar deposits. The international site is crypto-based, uses USDC on the Polygon network and is not regulated by the CFTC, so US residents should use the Polymarket US app only.

      Yes. Polymarket is legal in the US through Polymarket US, operated by QCX LLC, which the CFTC designated as a contract market in July 2025. Polymarket bought QCX to return to the US, and the app opened to the public in 2026 after a waitlist phase. Availability still depends on your state.

      Point Status
      Federal oversight CFTC-regulated Designated Contract Market
      Customer funds Held in a dedicated account, separate from company funds (per Polymarket US)
      Identity checks KYC required for every account
      State access Not available in every state; the app checks your location

      Which states can use Polymarket?

      Polymarket US is available in most states, but not all. Some states, including Nevada and Ohio, have acted against sports event contracts, and the list of restricted states changes as court cases and state rules evolve. The app confirms your location during sign-up, so you will know right away whether you can trade.

      What are Polymarket's fees?

      Polymarket US charges a fee only when you take liquidity. Taker fees follow the formula 0.0695 × contracts × price × (1 − price), so they peak at 50¢ and shrink near 1¢ or 99¢. Makers who post resting limit orders pay no fee, and Polymarket US charges nothing for deposits or withdrawals.

      Contract price Taker fee (100 contracts) Maker fee
      10¢ or 90¢ About $0.63 $0.00
      25¢ or 75¢ About $1.30 $0.00
      50¢ About $1.74 $0.00

      Cancelled or expired orders cost nothing. Active traders can also qualify for maker and taker rebates based on monthly volume.

      What can you trade on Polymarket?

      Sports are the core of the Polymarket US app. You can trade game winners, spreads, totals and futures across major US leagues such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and college sports, plus soccer, tennis, golf and UFC. The exchange also lists event contracts on other topics, such as elections.

      Sports

      Sports markets carry the most volume on Polymarket US. You can trade before the game or live, and sell your position at any time while the market is open. That flexibility is a key difference from a sportsbook bet, which you usually hold until the result unless the book offers a cash-out.

      Politics and other events

      Polymarket built its name on election markets, and the US exchange lists politics contracts, such as US House seat counts. The range outside sports is narrower than on the international site, so check the app for what is open in your state.

      How do deposits and withdrawals work on Polymarket?

      Polymarket US accepts debit card, ACH bank transfer, Apple Pay, PayPal, Venmo and wire deposits, and it charges no deposit or withdrawal fees. Card and ACH deposits can be capped at $50,000 per day. Withdrawals go back to the method you deposited with, in the order you made your deposits.

      Method Deposit Withdrawal
      Debit card Yes, no Polymarket fee Yes, free
      ACH bank transfer Yes, no Polymarket fee Yes, free
      Apple Pay / PayPal / Venmo Yes, no Polymarket fee Back to source method
      Wire transfer Yes, bank fees may apply Yes

      Card and ACH deposits usually need three to four business days to clear before you can withdraw them, even though you can often trade with the funds right away.

      How fast does Polymarket settle contracts?

      Polymarket US settles most contracts no later than the day after the event's expiration date, unless the contract terms say otherwise or the outcome goes to review. Winning contracts pay $1.00 each into your balance, and you can withdraw once your deposits have cleared.

      Is the Polymarket app good?

      The Polymarket US app is clean and fast. Markets are grouped by sport and topic, prices show as cents and implied odds, and buying or selling takes a couple of taps. You can filter markets, follow live games and manage open positions from one screen.

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      How do you contact Polymarket support?

      Polymarket US offers support through an in-app chat and an online Help Center with guides on accounts, deposits, withdrawals and trading. There is no phone line. For payment issues, open a chat from the app and include your transaction details to speed up the answer.

      Live chat: Available

      How do you sign up at Polymarket?

      Signing up for Polymarket US takes a few minutes. Download the app, create an account, verify your identity and deposit at least $10 to qualify for the welcome bonus. Follow these steps:

      1. Click one of the banners on this page to visit Polymarket US.
      2. Download the Polymarket US app and select the option to create an account.
      3. Enter your personal details and follow the prompts to set up your account.
      4. Complete the identity and location checks. Make sure your details match your ID to avoid delays.
      5. Deposit at least $10 with a method such as a debit card or ACH bank transfer.
      6. Once Polymarket confirms you meet the campaign terms, eligible new users receive a $25 trading bonus.

      For the full offer terms, see our Polymarket promo code page.

      18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading involves high risk and may result in loss of your entire investment. See polymarket.us/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated derivatives exchange and clearing organization.

      Tips for trading on Polymarket

      📚 Learn the basics first

      Read the Help Center guides before your first trade. Learn how prices work as probabilities, how settlement works and what each contract's rules say about how the outcome is decided.

      ⚽ Start with markets you know

      Begin with sports or topics you follow closely. Your edge comes from knowing the subject better than the price suggests, so stick to what you know while you learn the platform.

      💸 Use limit orders to save on fees

      Taker orders pay a fee, but resting limit orders do not. If you are not in a hurry, post a limit order at your price and let the market come to you.

      Polymarket pros and cons

      Pros Cons
      CFTC-regulated US exchange Not available in every state
      No deposit or withdrawal fees Taker fee on most trades
      No fee for maker orders Withdrawals return to deposit method first
      Deep sports markets and live trading Fewer non-sports markets than the international site

      Is Polymarket worth it?

      Polymarket is worth it if you live in a supported state and want a regulated way to trade sports and event outcomes. Free deposits and withdrawals, no maker fees and a simple app make it a strong choice. Compare it with its main rival in our Kalshi vs Polymarket guide.

      Polymarket review FAQs

      Yes. Polymarket US is operated by QCX LLC, a CFTC-designated contract market, and is legal at the federal level. Some states restrict access, and the app checks your location at sign-up.

      What is the Polymarket welcome bonus?

      New users can deposit $10 and get a $25 trading bonus. Claim it through the banners on this page and see our Polymarket promo code page for the full terms.

      Does Polymarket charge fees?

      Polymarket US charges a taker fee of up to about $1.74 per 100 contracts at 50¢. Maker orders, deposits and withdrawals are free.

      How do I withdraw from Polymarket?

      Request a withdrawal in the app. Funds go back to the method you deposited with, and card or ACH deposits need three to four business days to clear first.

      Is Polymarket US the same as Polymarket?

      No. Polymarket US is a separate, CFTC-regulated exchange for US users. The international Polymarket is crypto-based and is not regulated by the CFTC.

      Disclaimer:

      Polymarket operates globally through separate legal entities. Polymarket US is operated by QCX LLC d/b/a Polymarket US, a CFTC-regulated Designated Contract Market. The international platform is not regulated by the CFTC and operates independently. Trading involves substantial risk of loss. See our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy.
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