Polymarket has launched a mobile app in the United States, giving users a new way to bet on sporting events using real money under federal oversight, the company announced Wednesday.
The application, currently available for iOS, opens access to users on an ongoing basis via a waiting list system. Android support is expected soon, the company said.
This is a major comeback for Polymarket in the United States after its 2022 clashes with regulators. The platform was previously banned from operating in the United States after the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) discovered that it offered unregistered event-based derivatives. This led to a $1.4 million settlement and a shift toward regulatory compliance.
Now, with formal approval from the CFTC, Polymarket operates as an intermediated exchange under US federal rules, just like traditional commodities platforms. The company positions itself not as a bookmaker, but as a place to exchange the results of real-world events.
For now, the app focuses on sports, offering odds markets for big games and tournaments. But Polymarket says it plans to expand quickly into proposition betting.
Polymarket’s return to the United States coincides with growing interest in prediction markets as alternatives to surveys and experts. Proponents argue that these markets can surface valuable signals about public expectations and sentiment, particularly in uncertain scenarios such as elections, political decisions, or economic events.
Rival platform Kalshi recently closed a $1 billion funding round, valuing the company at $11 billion.
