The short answer is no. As of late December 2025, Polymarket is officially classified as an illegal gambling site in Singapore. Following a massive regulatory crackdown at the start of the year, the platform is now strictly geofenced for all Singaporean IP addresses.
Here is the breakdown of why Polymarket is restricted and what that means for traders in the Lion City.
The January 2025 Ban
On January 12, 2025, Singapore’s Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) issued a formal order to local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to Polymarket.
- The Reason: Singaporean law (specifically the Gambling Control Act 2022) dictates that only government-licensed entities can offer remote gambling services.1
- Singapore Pools vs. Polymarket: Since Singapore Pools is the only licensed provider in the country, any other platform offering “event contracts” or betting—especially those using cryptocurrency—is deemed an unlicensed and illegal gambling service.2
The “Close-Only” Restriction
According to the latest Polymarket documentation, Singapore is currently listed as a “Close-Only” country.
What this means: If you already had an account with open positions before the ban, you are permitted to log in (usually via a specific recovery link or decentralized wallet) to close your positions and withdraw your USDC. However, you are strictly prohibited from opening new “Yes” or “No” positions or depositing more funds into thePolymarketexchange.
Legal Penalties for Users
Unlike some jurisdictions where only the platform operator is targeted, Singapore’s laws are very strict for individual participants.
| Offense | Potential Penalty |
| Gambling on an Unlicensed Site | Fine up to S$10,000 and/or 6 months in jail. |
| Using a VPN to Access Polymarket | Violation of GRA terms; risk of being flagged for illegal remote gambling. |
| Operating/Promoting Polymarket | Fines up to S$500,000 and up to 7 years in jail. |
The VPN Risk for “Polymarket Bros”
While some traders in Singapore attempt to use VPNs to appear as if they are in supported European regions (like Norway or Germany), this is highly risky in 2026:
- GRA Monitoring: The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has taken over enforcement of remote gambling laws, with increased power to monitor and block unauthorized payment transactions.3
- Account Freezes: Following its acquisition of a CFTC-licensed exchange in late 2025, Polymarket has implemented high-grade VPN detection. If your account is flagged as a Singapore-based user attempting to bypass the block, Polymarket may permanently freeze your funds to comply with local laws.
Strategic Outlook for 2026
While Polymarket has successfully returned to the U.S. market through federal regulation, there is no current indication that it will seek a license from the GRA in Singapore. Singapore remains one of the most restrictive environments globally for decentralized prediction markets, favoring its state-owned monopoly.4
Strategic Summary: If you are in Singapore, your safest move is to ensure all existing funds are withdrawn from the Polymarket platform. The “Close-Only” status is your window to exit before further ISP-level restrictions make it harder to access the UI.
