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Is Polymarket legal in Michigan?

Status as of September 25, 2026 · every line has its source and date · not legal advice

As of September 25, 2026: polymarket.com does not let US users open new positions, including in Michigan. Polymarket US, the CFTC-regulated app, is unclear (sources disagree) in Michigan according to CBS Sports (September 24, 2026). 6 state actions involving Polymarket and 12 involving Kalshi are listed below with their sources. This is a dated summary of public sources, not legal advice.

Status at a glance

ServiceMichigan
Polymarket US (CFTC-regulated app)Unclear (sources disagree)
polymarket.com (international site)No new trades for US users
Kalshi (for comparison)Restricted; sports contracts blocked

Kalshi remains available in Michigan but its sports contracts are geofenced under an Ingham County Circuit Court preliminary injunction (2026-09-01) in the Attorney General's suit. Polymarket US's Michigan status is unclear: a federal court denied Polymarket US an injunction against Michigan enforcement (2026-06-17; appeal pending) and no Michigan-specific source says whether it currently serves Michigan.

What has happened in Michigan

DateCompanyEvent and source
2026-09-16PolymarketMichigan filed its brief in the Sixth Circuit appeal after Polymarket US's opening brief (Aug. 17) and a CFTC amicus brief (Aug. 24), and the docket shows no appellate decision yet.
QCX, LLC v. Dana Nessel, No. 26-1552 (6th Cir.) docket (CourtListener)
2026-09-01KalshiJudge Aquilina granted a preliminary injunction, in force until a final order, that requires Kalshi to keep its sports contracts geofenced from people located in Michigan, with a $500,000-per-day fine for failing the geolocation requirements.
Order Granting Preliminary Injunction, Nessel v. KalshiEX LLC, No. 26-1087-CZ (Ingham County Circuit Court)
2026-08-24KalshiThe Sixth Circuit put briefing in Kalshi's remand appeal on hold until it decides Kalshi's Ohio and Tennessee appeals (KalshiEX v. Schuler, No. 26-3196, and KalshiEX v. Orgel, No. 26-5235).
Order, Dana Nessel v. KalshiEX LLC, No. 26-1639 (6th Cir.)
2026-08-05PolymarketThe district court paused the Polymarket US case until the Sixth Circuit appeal is resolved.
QCX, LLC v. Nessel, No. 1:26-cv-00710 (W.D. Mich.) docket (CourtListener)
2026-07-24KalshiKalshi appealed the federal remand order to the Sixth Circuit, which docketed it on July 27, 2026 as No. 26-1639.
Nessel v. Kalshiex, LLC, No. 1:26-cv-00731 (W.D. Mich.) docket (CourtListener)
2026-07-17KalshiCNN reported that Kalshi told the Michigan judge it remained in compliance and that the unwound trades would stay liquidated and refunded because there was no way to reinstate them.
Trump regulator orders Kalshi to defy Michigan court – escalating battle over prediction markets (CNN, via Local News 8) (news)
2026-07-14KalshiThe CFTC stayed Kalshi's emergency rule and used its emergency authority to order Kalshi to complete the open Michigan trades as it normally would.
CFTC Stays KalshiEX Rule Change and Exercises Emergency Authority to Order Fulfillment of Pending Trades (Release 9267-26)
2026-07-13KalshiAt a hearing, Judge Aquilina extended the restraining order and gave Kalshi until Aug. 12, 2026 to geofence Michigan, with fines of $500,000 per day after that.
Michigan Judge Extends Kalshi Sports Contracts Ban, Ramps Up Potential Fines (Casino Beats) (news)
2026-07-12KalshiKalshi filed an emergency rule with the CFTC to force-liquidate the sports positions the court identified (those matched between Michigan traders and its affiliate Kalshi Trading LLC) and to cover any shortfall from its own funds.
KalshiEX DCM Notice of Market Emergency and Emergency Rule Filing, Follow-Up to July 6, 2026 Notice
2026-07-06KalshiAfter Kalshi asked the court to dissolve or change the restraining order, the court modified it and clarified in July 6 correspondence that certain trades by Michigan-located traders must be 'voided, cancelled and refunded.'
CFTC Order Staying Emergency Rule Filed by KalshiEX LLC and Directing Kalshi to Fulfill Open Trades Involving Michigan Residents
2026-06-29KalshiIngham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie E. Aquilina issued a 14-day temporary restraining order that barred Kalshi from sports-wagering activity for people located in Michigan (offering, settling, advertising and account creation for sports contracts), required MGCB-licensed geolocation, and set a $120,000-per-day fine for not complying.
Order Granting Temporary Restraining Order, Nessel v. KalshiEX LLC, No. 26-1087-CZ (Ingham County Circuit Court)
2026-06-25KalshiU.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney sent the case back to the Ingham County Circuit Court and denied the state's request for fees.
Opinion and Order Granting in Part Plaintiff's Motion to Remand, Nessel v. KalshiEX, No. 1:26-cv-731 (W.D. Mich.)
2026-06-17PolymarketJudge Maloney denied Polymarket US's motion for a preliminary injunction, finding it unlikely to win its argument that federal commodities law overrides Michigan gambling law.
Opinion and Order Denying Plaintiff's Motion for a Preliminary Injunction, QCX LLC v. Nessel, No. 1:26-cv-710 (W.D. Mich.)
2026-06-17PolymarketPolymarket US appealed the denial to the Sixth Circuit, which docketed it on June 25, 2026 as No. 26-1552.
QCX, LLC v. Dana Nessel, No. 26-1552 (6th Cir.) docket (CourtListener)
2026-03-10PolymarketJudge Paul L. Maloney denied Polymarket US's request for a temporary restraining order.
QCX, LLC v. Nessel, No. 1:26-cv-00710 (W.D. Mich.) docket (CourtListener)
2026-03-05KalshiTwo days after the suit was filed, Kalshi moved the case to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan (No. 1:26-cv-731).
Opinion and Order Granting in Part Plaintiff's Motion to Remand, Nessel v. KalshiEX, No. 1:26-cv-731 (W.D. Mich.)
2026-03-04PolymarketPolymarket US (QCX LLC) sued Attorney General Nessel and Michigan Gaming Control Board officials in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan (No. 1:26-cv-710) to stop Michigan from enforcing its gambling law against Polymarket's event contracts.
QCX, LLC v. Nessel, No. 1:26-cv-00710 (W.D. Mich.) docket (CourtListener)
2026-03-03KalshiAttorney General Dana Nessel, acting for the People of Michigan and the Michigan Gaming Control Board, sued KalshiEX in Ingham County Circuit Court (No. 26-1087-CZ), alleging its sports contracts are unlicensed sports betting under the Lawful Sports Betting Act.
Opinion and Order Granting in Part Plaintiff's Motion to Remand, Nessel v. KalshiEX, No. 1:26-cv-731 (W.D. Mich.)

Good to know

State regulator: Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). Licenses internet sports betting in Michigan and is a plaintiff, through the Attorney General, in the state-court case against Kalshi.

The federal picture

Polymarket US operates as a CFTC-designated contract market after Polymarket bought the CFTC-licensed exchange QCEX; Kalshi has been a designated contract market since 2020. Whether states may still apply their gambling laws to sports event contracts is being decided in the courts:

How sure is this page? Confidence: medium. Court orders, CFTC documents and regulator releases through September 2026 confirm Kalshi's Michigan status and history, but Polymarket US's Michigan availability rests on national roundups and its sports availability there is unconfirmed. Researched September 25, 2026; court cases in several states can change the status at any time.

Related: all states · Polymarket US · polymarket.com and the United States · is Kalshi legal in Michigan? (Kalshi View)

Other states

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Frequently asked questions

Is Polymarket legal in Michigan?

As of September 25, 2026: polymarket.com does not let US users open new positions, including in Michigan. Polymarket US, the CFTC-regulated app, is unclear (sources disagree) in Michigan according to CBS Sports (September 24, 2026). 6 state actions involving Polymarket and 12 involving Kalshi are listed below with their sources. This is a dated summary of public sources, not legal advice.

Can I use polymarket.com from Michigan?

Not for new trades. Polymarket's help center lists the United States as a blocked country and its developer documentation lists it as close-only (existing positions can be closed, new ones cannot be opened); US residents are pointed to Polymarket US.

Is Kalshi available in Michigan?

Restricted; sports contracts blocked, according to the sources on this page as of September 25, 2026.

Polymarket View is independent and not affiliated with Polymarket or Kalshi. This page summarises public sources; it is not legal advice. Polymarket odds today