Polymarket US has agreed to stop offering sports-related event contracts to customers in Michigan, the fourth prediction market operator to step back from the state’s sports market this year.
Under the agreement, announced by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) on 28 October, QCX LLC, which trades as Polymarket US, will not offer any new sports-related event contracts to Michigan customers. Any open positions held by Michigan residents that have not been closed voluntarily will be closed out by the end of the day, Eastern time, on 25 November 2026.
What the agreement says
- Approved by: the US District Court for the Western District of Michigan, which signed off on the stipulation.
- Deadline: open sports contracts held by Michigan residents will be closed by the end of 25 November 2026.
- In return: the state will not take enforcement action against Polymarket US as long as it stays in compliance.
The MGCB has treated these products as sports wagering offered without a Michigan licence, presented as federally regulated “prediction markets”. The Polymarket deal follows similar agreements with Coinbase Financial Markets and Robinhood Derivatives, and a state-court preliminary injunction against KalshiEX.
How the dispute played out
Polymarket US sued Michigan officials in federal court in March 2026, seeking to stop the state from enforcing its gaming laws against it. The court refused a temporary restraining order in March and a preliminary injunction in June, and Polymarket’s appeal against that ruling is still pending before the Sixth Circuit. On 10 September, the Michigan Department of Attorney General warned the company it would take legal action if it did not stop offering sports-related contracts to Michigan residents.
Henry Williams, executive director of the MGCB, said:
“Polymarket joining Kalshi, Robinhood, and Coinbase in stepping back from these unlicensed sports contracts shows that Michigan’s approach is working. We expect all operators to respect Michigan’s regulatory framework. If you want to offer sports wagering to Michigan residents, you need a Michigan license.”
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said:
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“One by one, from Kalshi to Robinhood and Coinbase, and this latest agreement with Polymarket, we’re holding the national sports betting industry accountable to Michigan law. Alongside the MGCB, we’re protecting Michigan residents by ensuring gaming in our state occurs in licensed and regulated ways, and under the protections and safeguards afforded by the law.”
Prediction markets remain one of the most contested issues in US betting. Lawmakers are also looking at how they advertise, as covered in our report on prediction market advertising around the midterms.
The full MGCB announcement is available as a PDF from the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
