If you are seeing an “Access Denied” screen with a 16-character Ray ID while trying to reach Polymarket, you have been flagged by the platform’s Cloudflare security firewall. This isn’t a “bug” in the website code, but rather a proactive block based on your connection metadata.

As of late December 2025—following recent platform security updates—these blocks have become more frequent. Here is how to diagnose and bypass the “Ray ID” error.


Why You Are Being Blocked

Cloudflare generates a Ray ID every time a request is blocked. On Polymarket, this typically happens for three specific reasons:

  1. Restricted Region Detection: You are attempting to access Polymarket from a restricted territory (like the US or UK) and your VPN is leaking your true IP address or DNS.
  2. Flagged IP Address: You are using a “dirty” or “data center” IP address. Many cheap or free VPNs use IP ranges that are pre-blacklisted by Cloudflare because they are frequently used by bots.
  3. Security Overdrive: Following the late December 2025 login vulnerabilities, Polymarket has tightened its Web Application Firewall (WAF). Normal human behavior—like refreshing too fast or having too many tabs open—can now trigger a “bot” block.

Immediate Fixes for the Ray ID Error

1. Fix Your VPN Settings

If you are a “Polymarket Bro” in a restricted region, the Ray ID is usually a sign of a “leaky” connection.

  • Switch Servers: Move from a high-traffic server (like New York or London) to a supported region such as Norway, Sweden, or Switzerland.
  • Enable Kill Switch: Ensure your VPN’s “Kill Switch” is active so your real IP is never exposed if the connection drops for a millisecond.
  • DNS Leak Protection: Check ipleak.net to ensure your browser isn’t leaking your local ISP’s DNS while the VPN is on.

2. Browser Troubleshooting

  • Clear Cookies for polymarket.com: Cloudflare often stores a “challenge” cookie that can become corrupted. Clearing it forces a fresh verification.
  • Disable Ad-Blockers: Highly aggressive ad-blockers (like uBlock Origin or Brave’s Shields) can interfere with Polymarket’s “Verify you are human” JavaScript challenge.
  • Try Incognito Mode: This is the fastest way to see if an extension is causing the Ray ID block.

3. The “Wait and Reset” Method

Most Cloudflare blocks on Polymarket are temporary.

  • 1-Hour Rule: If you were blocked for “Rate Limiting” (refreshing too much), the block usually expires automatically after 60 minutes.
  • IP Reset: If you are on a home network, restart your router to see if your ISP assigns you a new, “clean” IP address.

How to Use Your Ray ID for Support

If you are a high-volume trader or have funds locked and the block won’t lift, the Ray ID is your “ticket” to getting unblocked.

  1. Copy the Ray ID: It’s located at the very bottom of the error page (e.g., Ray ID: 8c8fe207c94c5e86).
  2. Join the Polymarket Discord: Head to the #support channel.
  3. Submit the ID: Do not just say “I’m blocked.” Provide your Ray ID, your public wallet address, and the region you are connecting from. This allows the Polymarket devs to see exactly which firewall rule you hit and manually whitelist you if it was a false positive.

Summary Checklist

CauseSolution
GeoblockUse a VPN set to Norway/Sweden.
Leaky ConnectionEnable Kill Switch & DNS Protection.
Bot DetectionDisable Ad-blockers & Clear Cookies.
Persistent BlockSubmit Ray ID to Polymarket Discord.

To see if your connection is currently cleared, try visiting the Polymarket status page directly.

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