Polymarket Will Hit Pause on Sports Contracts in Michigan

A fourth prediction platform will be halting sports contracts in the Wolverine State. 

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has announced a deal with Polymarket to pause its sports contracts in the state. The industry giant has already stopped accepting trades and will close all positions by November 25. 

As a result, Polymarket will avoid penalties and fines from the regulator while its lawsuit against the regulator proceeds. The operator has appealed the case to the Sixth Circuit and is still awaiting a ruling.

The Sixth Circuit recently ruled that Tennessee and Ohio can enforce gambling regulations on sports prediction markets. A similar ruling would force Polymarket to join the Michigan online sports betting market or halt all sports contracts.

“Polymarket joining Kalshi, Robinhood, and Coinbase in stepping back from these unlicensed sports contracts shows that Michigan’s approach is working,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams shared in a press release. “We expect all operators to respect Michigan’s regulatory framework. If you want to offer sports wagering to Michigan residents, you need a Michigan license.”

Polymarket’s chances of winning its appeal are low, and the US Supreme Court may not tackle the issue for months. As a result, operators like Polymarket must follow lower-court rulings or risk substantial financial and even criminal penalties.

Tough Timing for Polymarket

Despite the industry's uncertain future, Polymarket decided to make a massive push to gain ground on industry leader Kalshi.

The first major push came during the 2026 World Cup, for which Polymarket was an official prediction partner. This ensured millions of fans watching would repeatedly see the company’s logo and understand what it offers.

The next push came ahead of the football season, when Polymarket began using dozens of celebrities in new ad campaigns. While the NFL has so far refused to partner with the prediction industry, these ads assured viewers that its league markets are available.

This effort continued into the MLB playoffs, which saw a wide variety of high-priced ads run during every game. Its partnership with the league also let TV broadcasts use Polymarket stats during games instead of traditional sportsbook odds.

While these efforts led to more favorable Polymarket reviews, losing the Michigan market will be a significant blow. As more states pursue similar action against sports contracts, the operator may see revenue continue to fall, wasting an elaborate and expensive marketing campaign.