The short answer
Some prediction markets are offered in the United States through exchanges designated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. That is different from saying every prediction-market website, every event contract and every user is permitted in all 50 states.
Kalshi's official CFTC record lists it as a designated contract market. The CFTC also describes event contracts traded on Kalshi as subject to its anti-fraud and anti-manipulation authority. Those federal facts do not erase current state-level disputes around some sports contracts.
A four-part eligibility check
- Venue: identify the legal entity operating the exchange—not only the consumer brand.
- Product: verify that the specific contract is listed and available to your account. Politics, sports, economics and crypto products may be treated differently.
- Location: check the platform's current state or country restrictions while physically located there.
- User: confirm age, identity, employment and insider restrictions. People able to influence an outcome may be prohibited from trading it.
Why a static state list can mislead
Availability changes faster than an evergreen article can. Regulators file actions, courts issue temporary orders, exchanges modify products and platforms update geofencing. For that reason, 99market does not label a state simply “legal” or “illegal” without specifying the venue and contract.
International Polymarket and the U.S. product are also distinct access paths. Polymarket's current help center lists restricted jurisdictions for the international service and explicitly prohibits VPN circumvention. Check the eligibility screen shown to your account rather than relying on an old blog post.
Primary sources to check before funding
- CFTC: Kalshi designation record
- CFTC: 2026 prediction-markets enforcement advisory
- Polymarket: current geographic restrictions
This page is educational, not legal advice. If eligibility is material to you, consult the platform and a qualified lawyer in your jurisdiction. For structural differences, see prediction markets vs sports betting.
Frequently asked questions
Are prediction markets legal in every US state?
There is no safe one-word answer for every platform, contract and state. Federally regulated exchanges operate under CFTC oversight, while some states dispute the treatment of certain sports event contracts. A platform can also impose narrower eligibility rules.
Does CFTC regulation mean every contract is legal everywhere?
No. Exchange designation matters, but product rules, court orders, state actions and platform restrictions can still affect a specific contract or user.
Can a VPN be used to bypass a platform restriction?
Do not bypass geographic controls. It can violate platform terms and create account, withdrawal and compliance risk.