Polymarket is one of the world’s best-known prediction markets, allowing users to trade on the outcomes of sports, politics and other real-world events.
For US customers, however, there is an important distinction. Polymarket US is a separate, CFTC-regulated exchange, while Polymarket.com is the company’s international crypto-based platform. US residents must use Polymarket US rather than the international website.
Polymarket US currently offers sports markets covering leagues including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college basketball, soccer, tennis and golf. Contracts normally trade between $0 and $1 and settle at $1 if the selected outcome occurs and $0 if it does not.
| Polymarket US | Details |
|---|---|
| Polymarket Promo Code | POLY20 |
| New Customer Bonus | $20 trading credit |
| Qualifying Deposit | Deposit at least $1 for the published new-user partner incentive |
| Platform Type | CFTC-regulated prediction market exchange |
| Sports Markets | NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, college basketball, tennis, golf and more |
| How It Works | Trade event contracts priced between $0 and $1; winning contracts settle at $1 |
| Trading Fees | Variable by contract price; fees are highest around a 50¢ contract price |
| Maker Rebate | Yes — traders adding liquidity can receive a rebate |
| Funding Methods | ACH bank transfer and debit card |
| Trading Hours | Nearly 24/7, except scheduled maintenance and market-specific closures |
| US Access | Polymarket US; separate from the international Polymarket.com platform |
| Best For | Sports prediction markets, live market pricing and trading positions before settlement |
Polymarket Promo Code and New Customer Offer
Polymarket US currently documents a $20 first-deposit incentive for eligible new participants who onboard through an approved Independent Software Vendor, or ISV.
The published rules state that a new participant must successfully open an account and deposit at least $1. The $20 incentive credit is then applied within 30 days after the requirements are satisfied.
This does not necessarily mean every Polymarket signup link or promo code offers identical terms. Polymarket US also operates referral and other incentive programs, so bettors should check the specific offer displayed when registering rather than relying on an older code found online.
If USA.bet has its own Polymarket referral or affiliate code, that should be entered here with the exact qualifying conditions.
What Is Polymarket US?
Polymarket US is a prediction market exchange rather than a conventional sportsbook.
Each market is based on the outcome of a future event. A contract might ask whether a team will win a game, whether an NBA matchup will exceed a certain total or which team will win a championship.
If a Yes contract costs $0.60, the market is effectively pricing that outcome at around a 60% probability.
If you buy at $0.60 and the event resolves Yes, the contract settles at $1 and your gross gain is $0.40 before fees.
If it resolves No, the contract settles at $0 and you lose the $0.60 paid for it.
Unlike a sportsbook, Polymarket does not simply set odds and accept the opposing side of the wager. Orders are matched through an exchange order book against other participants.
That difference affects prices, fees and the ability to exit a position before the event has finished.
Polymarket US vs Polymarket.com
This distinction is particularly important for American users.
Polymarket.com is the international version. It operates using blockchain technology and crypto-based collateral.
Polymarket US is the regulated American platform operated through QCX LLC d/b/a Polymarket US. It uses US dollars and operates as a CFTC-regulated Designated Contract Market.
The accounts are separate.
US residents cannot simply create an international Polymarket.com account and trade there. Polymarket states that US customers should use the Polymarket US app, while Polymarket.com blocks US residents from depositing or trading.
This is important because descriptions of crypto deposits, USDC wallets and international Polymarket fees do not necessarily apply to Polymarket US.
Polymarket Sports Prediction Markets
Sports is currently one of the main focuses of Polymarket US.
Available contract structures include familiar sports-betting concepts such as:
- Game winners
- Spreads
- Totals
- Championship futures
- Tournament and playoff outcomes
- Player and team-related futures
- Exact-score and advancement markets
Polymarket’s official sports documentation specifically lists Winner, Spread, Total and Future contracts.
From the user’s perspective, a Polymarket moneyline can therefore look very similar to a sportsbook moneyline.
The economics are different.
At a sportsbook, you accept a price offered by the operator. At Polymarket, the price comes from bids and offers entered by market participants.
That makes liquidity and the spread between buyers and sellers important.
How Polymarket Odds Work
Polymarket contracts are generally priced between $0.01 and $0.99.
A contract trading at:
$0.25 ≈ 25% implied probability
$0.50 ≈ 50% implied probability
$0.75 ≈ 75% implied probability
If a contract settles successfully, it pays $1.
The market price is not a guarantee that the probability is correct. It simply represents the price at which traders are currently willing to buy and sell.
That distinction becomes especially relevant in less-liquid markets, where relatively small trades can move prices more dramatically.
Can You Sell a Polymarket Position Early?
Yes.
One major difference between a prediction exchange and a traditional bet is that you don’t necessarily need to wait for the event to settle.
Suppose you buy a contract at $0.40 and new information pushes it to $0.70. You may be able to sell your position around the new market price and take the profit rather than waiting for the final outcome.
Polymarket US uses a central limit order book with price-time priority, meaning orders at better prices are matched first, followed by older orders at the same price.
However, the ability to exit depends on another trader being willing to take the opposite side.
Liquidity therefore matters.
A headline portfolio value does not necessarily mean you could sell a large position instantly at exactly that price.
Polymarket Fees Explained
Polymarket US charges trading fees using a formula based partly on the probability represented by the contract price.
The standard formula is:
Fee = 0.05 × number of contracts × price × (1 − price)
Fees are highest around a 50/50 market and decline as the price moves toward $0 or $1.
For example, buying 100 contracts at $0.50 creates $50 of contract value.
The current published taker fee for that trade is $1.25.
At $0.25 or $0.75, the fee for the same 100 contracts is lower because there is less uncertainty in the contract price.
This is quite different from reading American or decimal sportsbook odds, so customers should check the actual fee displayed when trading rather than looking only at the headline contract price.
Maker Rebates
Polymarket also rewards traders who add liquidity.
A taker places an order that immediately matches liquidity already available in the market.
A maker places an order that remains on the book waiting for another trader to accept it.
Polymarket US currently provides a maker rebate equal to 25% of the equivalent taker fee, credited when the trade is filled.
For casual sports users this may not make much difference.
For frequent or higher-volume traders, however, whether an order adds or removes liquidity can materially affect trading costs.
Polymarket Rewards and Trading Incentives
The first-deposit incentive isn’t the only rewards system on Polymarket US.
The exchange also runs incentive programs designed to encourage both trading volume and liquidity.
These have included:
Volume incentives for generating eligible trading activity.
Liquidity incentives for leaving competitive resting orders in the order book.
Fill incentives for orders that provide liquidity and are subsequently executed.
Market-maker programs for approved professional participants.
The amounts can be substantial on markets Polymarket particularly wants to develop. For example, its 2026 documentation has listed dedicated reward pools around NBA games, esports, politics, weather and macroeconomic contracts.
These programs should not be confused with guaranteed cashback. Rewards depend on the applicable program rules, trading volume, order placement and competition from other traders.
For most casual users, the headline signup incentive and standard trading fees will matter more.
Is Polymarket Legal in the USA?
Polymarket’s US legal history requires some context.
In January 2022, the CFTC ordered the original Polymarket operation to pay a $1.4 million civil penalty for offering event-based binary options without operating as a registered exchange. The company was also required to wind down non-compliant markets.
The situation today is different.
QCX LLC d/b/a Polymarket US was designated as a contract market by the CFTC on July 9, 2025. The CFTC currently lists Polymarket US as a designated exchange.
That makes Polymarket US a federally regulated product.
However, there remains a major dispute over sports prediction markets.
Several states argue that contracts based on sports results are effectively sports wagering and should therefore require state gambling licenses. Prediction-market operators and the CFTC argue that these contracts fall under federal commodities law and CFTC jurisdiction.
Courts have not produced one uniform nationwide answer, and states continue to challenge prediction-market operators. In July 2026, attorneys general from 44 states urged the CFTC to reconsider its position on sports-related prediction markets.
As a result, Polymarket availability can vary by location and market type.
This is why we would not describe Polymarket sports markets simply as “legal in all 50 states.”
Federal regulation is clear. The interaction between that federal framework and state gambling law remains contested.
Where Is Polymarket Available?
Polymarket US is designed for American customers, but sports-market availability can change as litigation progresses.
As of August 2026, several jurisdictions have imposed or pursued restrictions, while other states continue to allow access during ongoing legal disputes. Current state maps show particularly significant restrictions in places including Nevada, Michigan and Washington, while litigation or regulatory challenges remain active elsewhere.
Because this area is changing quickly, customers should check the Polymarket US app for current availability from their location rather than relying on an old state list.
How To Sign Up for Polymarket US
For US customers, signup takes place through the Polymarket US app.
The basic process is:
- Download the Polymarket US iOS app.
- Create an account.
- Complete the required identity verification.
- Enter an eligible partner or referral code if applicable.
- Add a payment method.
- Deposit funds.
- Choose a market and place a trade.
Identity verification must be completed before trading.
The US app is currently available for iPhone. Polymarket says an Android version is coming to Google Play, while US customers cannot use Polymarket.com as an alternative for real-money trading.
Polymarket Deposit and Withdrawal Methods
Polymarket US is fiat-based, which makes funding considerably more familiar to American customers than the international crypto platform.
Current payment integrations include:
| Payment Method | Deposit |
|---|---|
| ACH Bank Transfer | Yes |
| Debit/Credit Card | Yes |
| Apple Pay | Yes |
ACH transactions are handled through Aeropay, while card and Apple Pay payments use Checkout.com. Polymarket’s documentation says ACH generally takes one to three business days, while card and Apple Pay funding can be instant.
Withdrawals can also be processed back through supported banking or card channels, subject to account and funding-source requirements.
This is another reason US customers should avoid relying on old Polymarket reviews that describe the platform as requiring cryptocurrency.
That applies to the international product, not the current Polymarket US exchange.
What Else Can You Trade on Polymarket?
The international Polymarket platform is known for an enormous variety of markets covering politics, economics, crypto, technology, culture, weather and geopolitical events.
Polymarket US launched with a heavier sports focus, but its regulatory filings show a much broader range of event contracts being developed.
CFTC filings in 2026 include Polymarket US contracts connected with elections, government appointments, cultural charts, product releases, IPOs, economic events and sports.
Polymarket US documentation has described politics, culture, finance and economics as additional categories being added alongside its sports offering.
For USA.bet readers, however, sports remains the most directly comparable product to a sportsbook.
Polymarket Customer Support
Polymarket US has its own support operation separate from Polymarket.com.
US customers can contact support through:
In-app support
Email: support@polymarket.us
The international platform uses a different support address, another reason to make sure you are looking at documentation for the correct version.
Polymarket FAQs
Is Polymarket a sportsbook?
No. Polymarket US is a CFTC-regulated prediction market exchange. Users trade event contracts with other market participants rather than placing conventional bets directly against a sportsbook.
Does Polymarket have a promo code?
Polymarket promo code is POLY20 to claim $20 first-deposit credit for new users, you need to deposit at least $1.
How much does a Polymarket contract pay?
A successful standard contract settles at $1, while an unsuccessful contract settles at $0. Your actual profit depends on the price paid and applicable trading fees.
Can I cash out before a game finishes?
You can sell an open position before settlement if sufficient liquidity is available. The price may have moved up or down since your original trade.
Does Polymarket charge fees?
Yes. Polymarket US charges taker trading fees based on the contract price and number of contracts. Fees are highest around a 50% probability. Traders who provide liquidity may receive maker rebates.
Can Americans use Polymarket?
Yes, through Polymarket US where available. US residents cannot trade through the international Polymarket.com platform.
Is Polymarket legal in all 50 states?
Polymarket US is federally regulated by the CFTC, but state regulators continue to challenge whether sports-event contracts fall under state gambling laws. Availability therefore differs by location and can change as litigation progresses.
Does Polymarket have an Android app?
Not yet. As of August 2026, the Polymarket US app is available for iPhone and an Android version is listed as coming soon.
Is Polymarket Worth Using?
Polymarket US is one of the more interesting alternatives to a conventional sportsbook because the similarities stop once you look beneath the interface.
You can trade familiar moneylines, spreads, totals and futures, but prices come from an exchange rather than a bookmaker. You can also sell positions before settlement, use limit orders and potentially earn rebates for providing liquidity.
That creates advantages for bettors who understand market pricing.
There are also drawbacks.
Fees are less immediately intuitive than sportsbook vig, liquidity can affect the price at which you enter or exit, the US product is still developing compared with the much larger international Polymarket platform, and the legal battle between federal prediction-market regulation and state gambling law remains unresolved.
For someone who simply wants to bet $20 on an NFL game at displayed odds, a conventional sportsbook is easier to understand.
For users interested in trading probabilities, comparing market prices and exiting positions as information changes, Polymarket offers something meaningfully different.
