Is Polymarket legal in Connecticut?
Connecticut at a glance
| Question | Answer as of October 30, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Licensed sportsbooks | Three: the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, the Mohegan Tribe and the Connecticut Lottery Corporation |
| Regulator | Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), Gaming Division |
| Action against Polymarket | Cease-and-desist order on sports event contracts, September 10, 2026 |
| Lawsuit against Polymarket | None found in public records |
| Federal circuit | Second Circuit (Kalshi appeal No. 26-2239 pending) |
| Federal government’s position | CFTC sued Connecticut on April 2, 2026; case pending |
Short version: Connecticut treats sports event contracts as unlicensed sports betting and has ordered Polymarket to stop offering them to residents. It has not sued Polymarket, and no court has ruled on Polymarket specifically. Non-sports markets were not the subject of the order.
Which Polymarket a Connecticut resident can use
There are two Polymarkets. Polymarket US is the CFTC-designated exchange for US residents, reached through an app; the international exchange at polymarket.com restricts US users. So the legal question in Connecticut is about Polymarket US. A third-party state tracker updated October 24, 2026 still listed Polymarket US as available in Connecticut, while noting that the app can switch off market categories, most often sports, state by state. We could not independently confirm which sports markets a Connecticut account sees today; the app is the final word.
The September 10 order
On September 10, 2026 Governor Ned Lamont’s office announced that the DCP had issued cease-and-desist orders to nine prediction market operators: Polymarket, Coinbase, Crypto.com, Robinhood, ProphetX, Novig, Webull, Gemini and Underdog Predict. According to the governor’s release, the orders require the companies to stop offering sports event contracts to Connecticut residents and cite possible civil penalties under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act and criminal penalties under the state’s gaming statutes. No dollar amounts were stated.
The state went further than letters. It issued nearly 30 subpoenas: to nine licensees and service providers including PayPal, Plaid, Sportradar, Genius Sports and Socure; to 15 media organisations including ESPN and the Hartford Courant; and to Apple’s App Store, Google Play, Apple Pay, Google Wallet and Stripe. The release says the businesses subpoenaed are not under investigation. DCP Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli summed up the state’s position: “Our laws are clear: sports betting may only be offered by legal, licensed sportsbooks.”
The Kalshi case that sets the terms
Connecticut moved against Kalshi first. The DCP sent Kalshi, Robinhood and Crypto.com cease-and-desist orders on December 3, 2025, making it the first state to act. Kalshi sued the DCP commissioner in federal court. On August 10, 2026 U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver denied a preliminary injunction in a 38-page ruling holding that sports event contracts are not “swaps” under the Commodity Exchange Act, and on August 15 he refused an injunction pending appeal, according to CasinoReviews. Kalshi said it had more than 24,000 Connecticut users.
The appeal, KalshiEX v. Cafferelli, No. 26-2239, was docketed in the Second Circuit on August 12. On September 3 the court ordered it heard in tandem with Kalshi’s New York appeal and Coinbase v. Tong, according to the PredictionMarketLaws docket summary; no argument date had been set as of October 21. Separately, Attorney General William Tong sued Kalshi in late August to stop what he called an “illegal, unlicensed sports betting” operation, as CT Mirror reported. Because Polymarket US and Kalshi offer the same kind of CFTC-listed contract, a Second Circuit ruling in the Kalshi case would effectively decide Polymarket’s position in Connecticut, New York and Vermont too.
Where the federal government stands
The CFTC sued Connecticut on April 2, 2026, arguing that federal law preempts state gambling law for contracts on registered exchanges; that case is pending. It is one of ten suits the agency has filed against states, the latest against Utah on October 26. The Third, Fourth, Sixth and Ninth Circuits have already ruled in parallel state cases, and New Jersey’s case against Kalshi (No. 26-299) is before the Supreme Court. Until the justices settle the question nationally, the answer in Connecticut depends on the Second Circuit.
How Polymarket compares with Kalshi in Connecticut
| Kalshi | Polymarket US | |
|---|---|---|
| Cease-and-desist | December 3, 2025 | September 10, 2026 |
| State lawsuit against the exchange | Yes (Attorney General, August 2026) | None found |
| Exchange’s own federal suit | Yes; lost at district court, on appeal | None found |
| Contracts targeted | Sports event contracts | Sports event contracts |
The practical difference is litigation risk. Kalshi has a ruling against it in Connecticut and an active state enforcement suit; Polymarket has an order but no court case. Users of either platform who already hold sports positions should check the app for any restriction notices. The governor’s release said DCP had ordered platforms to allow Connecticut residents to withdraw funds.
What this means in practice
As of October 30, 2026, a Connecticut adult can legally hold a Polymarket US account, and nothing in the state’s public actions targets non-sports contracts such as elections or economics. Sports contracts are the contested category: the state says offering them is illegal, Polymarket has not challenged the order in court, and the federal question is on appeal. The status could change quickly if the Second Circuit rules or if Connecticut sues Polymarket. Our Kalshi Connecticut page tracks the lead case. This is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is Polymarket legal in Connecticut?
Polymarket US, the CFTC-regulated exchange, can be accessed by Connecticut adults, but on September 10, 2026 the state ordered Polymarket to stop offering sports event contracts to residents. Non-sports markets were not targeted. This is not legal advice.
Did Connecticut sue Polymarket?
As of October 30, 2026 we found no lawsuit by Connecticut against Polymarket. The state has sued Kalshi and sent Polymarket a cease-and-desist order.
Which court decides the Connecticut question?
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals, in KalshiEX v. Cafferelli, No. 26-2239, heard in tandem with Kalshi’s New York appeal and Coinbase v. Tong. No argument date had been set as of October 21, 2026.
Who is licensed for sports betting in Connecticut?
Only the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, the Mohegan Tribe and the Connecticut Lottery Corporation. The legal age for sports wagering is 21.
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Sources
- Office of Governor Ned Lamont, Governor Lamont Announces New Actions Against Illegal Prediction Markets Offering Sports Wagers in Connecticut
- DeFi Rate, Connecticut Sends Cease-and-Desist Orders Affecting Sports Contracts on Nine Exchanges
- CasinoReviews, Kalshi Asks Appeals Court to Block Connecticut Enforcement
- PredictionMarketLaws, KalshiEX LLC v. Cafferelli, 26-2239: Status and Timeline
- CT Mirror, CT sues Kalshi over unlicensed sports betting
- StartPolymarket, Is Polymarket Legal in the US? All 50 States (updated October 24, 2026)
18+ only. Prediction market contracts carry real financial risk. This page is analysis, not legal, financial or betting advice. If gambling stops being fun, help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER.