As of late December 2025, Polymarket is officially restricted in Germany. While the platform experienced a brief period of “grey market” availability, a decisive crackdown by the German Federal Gambling Authority (GGL) has placed the site on the national blacklist.
If you are trying to access the exchange from Berlin, Munich, or Hamburg, here is the current regulatory status and the risks involved for 2026.
The GGL “Achtung” Warning (September 2025)
The definitive shift occurred in September 2025, when the GGL issued a stern public warning specifically naming Polymarket.
- The Ruling: The GGL classified Polymarket’s “event contracts” as illegal gambling. Under the Fourth Interstate Gambling Treaty (GlüStV 2021), the German legislator only permits bets on “defined sporting events with verifiable results.”1
- The “Manipulation” Argument: Regulators argued that betting on politics, wars (such as the Ukraine or Gaza conflicts), or entertainment is “particularly susceptible to manipulation” and therefore cannot be licensed under current German law.2
- The Block: Polymarket is now explicitly included in the platform’s official “Blocked Countries” list (Country Code: DE).
Legal Risks for German Users (§ 285 StGB)
Germany is one of the few jurisdictions where the law targets not just the operator, but also the individual player.
- Criminal Liability: Under § 285 of the German Criminal Code (StGB), participation in illegal gambling is a criminal offense.3 Law enforcement has warned that even “conditional intent”—simply suspecting the platform might be unlicensed—is enough to trigger liability.4
- Payment Flagging: German banks and fintechs (like N26 or Revolut) have significantly increased their monitoring of “unusual” crypto-to-fiat transactions. Transfers tied to known unlicensed betting platforms can trigger Anti-Money Laundering (AML) reports.5
- Void Contracts: The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has consistently ruled that contracts based on illegal gambling are void.6 This means if Polymarket were to freeze your funds, you would have zero legal recourse in German courts to recover them.
Current Experience in Germany
| Feature | Status as of Dec 2025 |
| Direct Web Access | Blocked (403 Access Denied) |
| Trading Status | Prohibited for non-sports events |
| Account Creation | Blocked for German IP addresses |
| KYC Check | German ID cards are generally rejected for the regulated US app |
The 2026 Outlook: MiCA and Licensed Alternatives
While the GGL has taken a hard line, the European Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation—fully in effect by 2026—may eventually provide a path for “crypto-derivative” platforms to operate legally across the EU. However, gambling laws remain a national competency, meaning Germany’s ban could persist even if other EU countries open up.
Regulated Alternatives in Germany:
If you are looking for legal “forecast” trading, German residents typically use established brokers like Interactive Brokers (IBKR).7 Through their ForecastTrader platform, German users can trade CFTC-regulated event contracts (like those from Kalshi) which are treated as financial derivatives rather than “bets.”
Summary Checklist for Germany
- Avoid VPN Bypass: Using a VPN to trade from Germany is a double violation: it breaks Polymarket’s Terms of Service and potentially violates German criminal law.
- Withdrawal: If you have funds stuck, use a decentralized wallet (MetaMask) to connect to a “Close-Only” recovery portal if available.
- Verification: Always check the GGL Whitelist (Weiße Liste) to see which platforms are currently licensed for use in Germany.
