Polymarket’s U.S. Exchange Generates $13.7 B in Contract Face‑Value Trading, 98% from Sports Bets

Polymarket’s U.S. prediction‑market platform recorded about $13.7 billion in contract‑face‑value trading over the 30 days ending Oct. 26, with sports contracts accounting for 98.2% of that volume. The figure reflects a 78% increase from the prior month, driven by roughly $13.5 billion in sports‑related turnover. The U.S. venue dominates Polymarket’s overall activity, yet its heavy reliance on sports betting leaves it vulnerable to regulatory scrutiny: the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is re‑examining compliance with Polymarket’s 2022 settlement that limits U.S. access to its offshore platform, and the CFTC has also sued Utah and other states over jurisdiction of prediction markets. The inquiry focuses on customer‑location controls and U.S. advertising, raising questions about whether sports‑event contracts fall under federal derivatives rules or state gambling laws.