Is Polymarket legal in Michigan? Polymarket US, sports contracts and Polymarket’s lawsuit against the state (2026)
Polymarket US operates in Michigan, but its sports contracts are contested: Polymarket sued Michigan’s attorney general in March and lost its bid for an injunction in June, while Kalshi, Robinhood and Coinbase have pulled sports contracts in the state. What Michiganders can trade, the court fight, and taxes.
In this article
Polymarket US is available in Michigan, but sports contracts are the open question. The CFTC-regulated app operates in the state, and politics, economics and culture markets are available. Whether its sports contracts are offered is contested: Michigan's regulators say they are illegal sports betting, Polymarket has sued the state, and Kalshi, Robinhood and Coinbase have all stopped offering sports contracts there. The global site, polymarket.com, does not accept US residents.
As of 24 October 2026. Trackers disagree on whether Polymarket's sports contracts are live in Michigan; the app's location check is the only reliable answer.
Polymarket in Michigan at a glance
| Status in Michigan | |
|---|---|
| Polymarket US | Operating; non-sports markets available |
| Polymarket sports contracts | Contested; trackers disagree, check the app |
| Global polymarket.com | Not open to US residents |
| Minimum age | 18 (licensed sportsbooks require 21) |
| Online sportsbooks | Legal since January 2021, licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board |
| State tax | 4.25% flat income tax, plus city taxes such as Detroit's |
| Kalshi | Sports contracts blocked by a court order since 1 September (Kalshi in Michigan) |
Polymarket v. Michigan: the timeline
Unusually, it was Polymarket that went to court first.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 4 March 2026 | Polymarket US (QCX LLC) sues Attorney General Dana Nessel and Michigan Gaming Control Board officials in federal court in western Michigan, arguing federal law shields its contracts |
| 10 March | The court denies a temporary restraining order |
| 17 June | Judge Maloney denies a preliminary injunction, finding that sports contracts are likely not swaps under federal law |
| Since | Polymarket's appeal is pending at the Sixth Circuit, alongside Robinhood's |
Meanwhile Michigan won a court order against Kalshi's sports contracts in state court, Robinhood agreed in September to stop offering them, and Coinbase stopped on 10 October. No such agreement or order has been reported for Polymarket, which is why trackers disagree about what its app shows Michiganders. In September the Sixth Circuit also ruled, in cases from Ohio and Tennessee, that states can enforce their sports betting laws against prediction markets, which strengthens Michigan's hand (Polymarket sues Ohio).
What Michiganders can trade
- Politics: the Michigan Senate race between Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers, one of the most traded races of the year (Michigan Senate odds), and control of Congress.
- Economics, crypto and culture: Fed decisions, inflation, bitcoin price contracts and awards.
- Sports: only if the app offers them at your location.
How to sign up in Michigan
- Download Polymarket US and verify your identity; you must be 18 or older.
- Allow location access; the app decides what you can trade.
- Deposit by debit card, Apple Pay or bank transfer (how to deposit).
- Note that some promotional offers exclude Michigan (Polymarket promo code).
Taxes
Michigan taxes gains at its flat 4.25% income tax rate, and some cities, including Detroit, add their own income tax. Federal tax also applies (how winnings are taxed).
Can Michiganders use the global site with a VPN?
No. The global site bars US persons, can freeze accounts it identifies as American, and Michigan regulators are actively policing prediction markets (where Polymarket is legal).
Polymarket in Michigan: frequently asked questions
Is Polymarket legal in Michigan?
Polymarket US operates in Michigan, but its sports contracts are contested and the subject of Polymarket's federal lawsuit against the state.
Can you trade sports on Polymarket in Michigan?
Possibly not: trackers disagree. Check the app from Michigan.
Did Michigan sue Polymarket?
No. Polymarket sued Michigan's attorney general and gaming regulators in March 2026 and lost its bid for an injunction in June; its appeal is pending.
Is Kalshi available in Michigan?
Kalshi's sports contracts have been blocked by a state court order since 1 September 2026.
