As of late December 2025, the situation for Polymarket in Australia has shifted from a “grey market” to a formal nationwide ban. Following an aggressive crackdown by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the platform is now officially blocked by all major Australian internet service providers (ISPs).
If you are trying to trade from Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth, here is the essential update on why the “Access Denied” screens are appearing.
The August 2025 ACMA Blocking Order
The definitive move against Polymarket occurred on August 13, 2025, when ACMA added the site to its list of prohibited gambling services.
- The Catalyst: ACMA launched an investigation following reports (initially by Crikey in April 2025) that Polymarket was hiring high-profile Australian TikTok and Instagram influencers to promote betting on the 2025 Australian Federal Election.
- The Violation: The regulator found Polymarket in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). Under Australian law, offering “wagering services” (even for elections) requires a license from an Australian state or territory.1
- The Result: ACMA formally directed ISPs (like Telstra, Optus, and TPG) to block access to the domain.2 Since August, Polymarket has been categorized alongside illegal offshore casinos and “pokies” sites.
New Crypto Gambling Laws (June 2024 – 2025)
Beyond the specific ACMA block, Australia introduced a major legislative hurdle that makes Polymarket’s core model difficult to sustain in the country:
- The Crypto Payment Ban: In June 2024, amendments to the IGA made it a criminal offense for any interactive wagering service to accept digital currency (crypto) or credit cards for betting.3
- Extraterritorial Reach: This law applies even if the platform is based offshore. Because Polymarket requires USDC (crypto) to place trades, it is essentially in permanent conflict with Australian financial regulations.
Current Status for Australian Users
| Feature | Status as of Dec 2025 |
| Direct Access | Blocked (ISP-level DNS block) |
| Trading Status | Prohibited |
| Account Withdrawals | Generally permitted (via “Close-Only” recovery portals) |
| Influencer Promotion | Illegal (Fines up to AU$2.5 million for promoters) |
The “VPN Warning” for 2026
While “Polymarket Bros” in Australia may be tempted to use a VPN to bypass the ISP block, the risks have escalated:
- ACMA Enforcement: The watchdog has begun tracking “affiliate” behavior.4 If you are caught promoting the platform or facilitating access while in Australia, you can face massive civil penalties.
- Account Freezes: Following its acquisition of the US-licensed QCEX in late 2025, Polymarket has implemented stricter region-locking to protect its new global licenses. Using a VPN to trade from a “blacklisted” country like Australia carries a high risk of your USDC being frozen for a terms-of-service violation.
Summary Checklist for Australians
- Withdrawal: If you have funds on the platform, use a decentralized wallet (like MetaMask) to access the site and withdraw your USDC.e to a safe address.
- Regulated Alternatives: Consider BetStop (the national self-exclusion register) to verify which wagering services are actually licensed to operate legally in your state.5
- Next Steps: With the 2026 global events approaching, look for Polymarket to potentially seek an Australian partner—similar to their US strategy—though no plans have been announced.
