Polymarket is formally returning to the United States after nearly four years, launching a U.S.-specific app and beginning access for users on its wait-list. On Wednesday, the platform started giving select Americans the ability to place real-money wagers initially on sports events under a newly approved structure. The move could reshape how U.S. bettors interact with prediction markets at a time when regulatory scrutiny and industry competition are intensifying.
What’s new: the U.S. relaunch begins
On December 3, 2025, Polymarket began rolling out its U.S. app to members of its wait-list, marking its first major domestic relaunch since a 2022 enforcement action forced the platform offshore.
The initial rollout focuses on sports-event contracts, with broader “event-market” offerings including proposition bets and other outcomes promised in a later phase.
Polymarket’s return follows regulatory clearance from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which granted an amended order of designation to allow the platform to operate as a federally regulated exchange.
How Polymarket cleared the regulatory hurdle
Acquisition of a licensed exchange
Earlier in 2025, Polymarket acquired QCEX a CFTC-registered derivatives exchange and clearinghouse in a roughly $112 million deal. That acquisition provided the regulatory foundation for a compliant return.
The CFTC’s amended designation now allows Polymarket to offer access via traditional brokerages and futures-commission merchants, integrating into existing U.S. market infrastructure.
From banishment to reboot
Polymarket was forced to block U.S. users in 2022 after a settlement with the CFTC that included a $1.4 million civil penalty for operating an unregistered derivatives exchange.
Since then, the firm has engaged in regulatory restructuring culminating in the QCEX acquisition and the CFTC’s green light to resume operations.
The rollout and what users can expect
Polymarket’s U.S. app is gradually reaching people who signed up on its wait-list not everyone has access yet.
At launch, only sports-event contracts are available. The company plans to expand into broader prediction markets such as political events, economic outcomes, and proposition bets once the foundational platform stabilizes.
Some industry observers note the app already surged to the top spot among free sports apps in Apple’s App Store, hinting at strong demand.
What this could mean – and what remains uncertain
Potential alternatives to traditional sportsbooks
Polymarket aims to position itself not just as a sportsbook but as a broader “event market,” encompassing more than typical gambling. If it delivers on wider contract offerings, it could challenge established online sportsbooks and attract users interested in betting on politics, economics, or other real-world events.
Regulatory and legal spotlights
Although Polymarket now operates under a CFTC-regulated framework, sports-event contracts remain controversial in many U.S. states they often resemble state-regulated sports betting. It remains unclear how state-by-state laws will treat these new offerings.
Polymarket’s earlier shutdown following charges of unregistered trading looms as a reminder: the broader regulatory environment around prediction markets remains fragile.
Competitive and industry consequences
Polymarket returns to a U.S. market now crowded with established sportsbooks, newer entrants, and converging fintech platforms. Its earlier dominance in global event markets may not automatically translate into U.S. success.
Still, the timing just ahead of peak NFL/NBA seasons and a likely hot 2026 election cycle — could give Polymarket favorable tailwinds if it executes well.
Conclusion
Polymarket’s relaunch in the U.S. marks a major milestone for prediction markets. With CFTC approval and a carefully staged rollout, the platform is once again enabling Americans to trade on sports and eventually a broader slate of events. That said, success will depend on regulatory developments, user adoption, and how effectively Polymarket navigates competition. This story will be updated as terms change or expansion unfolds.
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Related Questions
Q: What does “Polymarket return to the U.S.” mean?
A: It means Polymarket has relaunched a U.S.-focused version of its app, allowing eligible American users to trade real-money contracts under federal CFTC oversight — after being barred from U.S. operations in 2022.
Q: Will Polymarket offer types of bets beyond sports?
A: Yes. The initial U.S. rollout focuses on sports, but Polymarket plans to expand to proposition markets covering politics, economics, and other real-world events.
Q: Why was Polymarket shut out of the U.S. before?
A: In 2022, regulators penalized Polymarket for operating an unregistered derivatives exchange, which forced the company to block U.S. users and cease operations domestically.
Q: Who regulates Polymarket’s U.S. business now?
A: The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulates it under a new Amended Order of Designation, making it a compliant exchange operating under federal rules.
Q: Does Polymarket’s return pose risks under state gambling laws?
A: Possibly. While Polymarket operates under federal regulation, sports-event and other event-based contracts could still face scrutiny or restrictions under state-level gambling laws.