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Being fought in court

Is Polymarket legal in Michigan?

A federal judge denied Polymarket US's injunction request on June 17, 2026; its Sixth Circuit appeal is on hold behind the Kalshi appeals.

Checked Oct 27, 2026 against court dockets and official pages. Not legal advice.

Polymarket in Michigan

Status
Being fought in court
Latest step in Michigan
Oct 7, 2026
State income tax
4.25% flat
Gambling losses
Only if you itemize

Legal status

Where does Polymarket stand in Michigan?

As of October 27, 2026, Kalshi, Robinhood and Coinbase are barred or have agreed to stop offering sports event contracts to people in Michigan. A state judge ordered Kalshi to block Michigan users from its sports contracts on Sept. 1, 2026, and Robinhood and Coinbase signed agreements with the state. Polymarket US lost a bid for a federal injunction and its appeal is on hold.

What happens next: The Sixth Circuit appeals for Polymarket US, Robinhood, Coinbase and Kalshi are on hold behind the Sept. 25, 2026 Ohio and Tennessee ruling, and Kalshi's request for a rehearing by the full court is pending.

Polymarket · 1 step

What has happened with Polymarket in Michigan?

Oldest first. Each links to the filing or page it comes from.
  1. Jun 17, 2026

    Court · U.S. District Court, W.D. Michigan · QCX, LLC v. Nessel (No. 1:26-cv-00710)

    A federal judge in Michigan denied Polymarket US's request for a preliminary injunction against Michigan's enforcement. Polymarket US appealed.

    CourtListener docket, QCX v. Nessel

Same state

What else has happened in Michigan?

Steps that name other platforms or the state's rules generally.
  1. Mar 5, 2026

    Attorney general · Michigan Attorney General · People v. KalshiEX (Ingham County Circuit Court)

    Attorney General Dana Nessel announced a state-court lawsuit saying Kalshi runs unlicensed sports betting in violation of Michigan's Lawful Sports Betting Act.

    Michigan AG press release, Mar. 5, 2026
  2. Jun 25, 2026

    Court · U.S. District Court, W.D. Michigan · Nessel v. KalshiEX, LLC (No. 1:26-cv-00731)

    A federal judge sent the state's lawsuit against Kalshi back to the Ingham County state court after Kalshi tried to move it to federal court. Kalshi appealed to the Sixth Circuit, where briefing is on hold.

    CourtListener docket, Nessel v. KalshiEX
  3. Jun 29, 2026

    Court · Ingham County Circuit Court (state) · People v. KalshiEX

    A state judge issued a temporary restraining order halting Kalshi's sports betting operation and advertising in Michigan.

    Michigan AG press release, June 29, 2026
  4. Aug 6, 2026

    Court · U.S. District Court, E.D. Michigan · Coinbase Financial Markets, Inc. v. Nessel (No. 4:25-cv-14092)

    A federal judge denied Coinbase's request for a preliminary injunction. Coinbase appealed (Sixth Circuit No. 26-1693).

    CourtListener docket, Coinbase v. Nessel
  5. Sep 1, 2026

    Court · Ingham County Circuit Court (state) · People v. KalshiEX

    A state judge entered a preliminary injunction requiring Kalshi to block people in Michigan from its sports contracts, with a $500,000 per day fine. It stays in place until a final order.

    Michigan AG press release, Sept. 2, 2026
  6. Sep 9, 2026

    Regulator · Michigan Gaming Control Board · Robinhood Derivatives, LLC v. Nessel (No. 1:26-cv-00730)

    Robinhood agreed in a court-approved stipulation to stop new sports event contracts in Michigan and close positions by Oct. 9. The state agreed not to enforce against it while the appeals run; neither side gave up its legal position.

    Michigan Gaming Control Board announcement, Sept. 9, 2026
  7. Oct 7, 2026

    Regulator · Michigan Gaming Control Board · Coinbase Financial Markets, Inc. v. Nessel (No. 4:25-cv-14092)

    Coinbase agreed to stop new sports event contracts in Michigan by Oct. 10 and close remaining positions. The state agreed not to enforce against it while the Sixth Circuit appeals proceed.

    Michigan Gaming Control Board announcement, Oct. 7, 2026

Your taxes

What does this mean for your Michigan taxes?

Michigan taxes gambling winnings and prediction market profits as income (4.25% flat). Gambling losses only reduce your state tax if you itemize, and only up to your winnings.

Michigan taxes income at a flat 4.25% for tax year 2025.

Michigan allows gambling losses only if you itemize on your federal return. Since 2021, you subtract on Schedule 1 the wagering losses you deducted on federal Schedule A. Nonresidents subtract only losses from wagers placed at a Michigan casino or race track, up to winnings from those. Other federal itemized deductions are not allowed.

Federal tax applies wherever you live. The IRS hasn’t said how event contracts are taxed, so traders use one of four methods: capital gains, Section 1256, ordinary income or gambling. Polymarket taxes, explained. All Michigan tax rules.

A court fight doesn’t change what you already owe. Positions you closed still count in the year they closed, so download your records now, whatever happens with access in your state.

Ask your AI

Ask your AI about Polymarket in Michigan

Answer a few questions and we write the prompt for ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity or any AI. It carries the four tax methods, your state’s rule and links to the pages behind them, checked November 3, 2026. Or run your actual trades for exact figures, free.

Tax year
Up or down this year?
Open positions on December 31?
Add rough numbers (optional)

The AI can then work the methods out for your year. Round figures are enough.

Your prompt

2,239 characters

I trade prediction markets on Polymarket US. I'm working on my US federal taxes for 2026. I live in Michigan.

From WagerMints, checked November 3, 2026:
- Polymarket US is a separate, CFTC-regulated exchange from polymarket.com.
- We haven't been able to confirm what Polymarket US reports to the IRS, so check the account's documents.
- The IRS has published no guidance on how event contracts are taxed.

Four ways traders report this:
1. Capital gains: Form 8949 and Schedule D, short- or long-term by holding period. Net losses offset up to $3,000 of other income a year, and the rest carries forward.
2. Section 1256: Form 6781, 60% long-term and 40% short-term however long I held. Positions open on December 31 count as sold at that day's value. Disputed: Camuso and Mukherjee (Tax Notes Federal, June 2026) conclude it isn't available, White & Case argues for it, and the CFTC's October 2026 proposal to call event contracts swaps cuts against it, because Section 1256 excludes swaps.
3. Ordinary income: net result on Schedule 1, line 8z.
4. Gambling: winnings on Schedule 1, line 8b. Losses only on Schedule A if I itemize, only up to winnings, and only 90% of them from 2026.

Michigan: Michigan taxes gambling winnings and prediction market profits as income (4.25% flat). Gambling losses only reduce your state tax if you itemize, and only up to your winnings.
Legal status there: As of October 27, 2026, Kalshi, Robinhood and Coinbase are barred or have agreed to stop offering sports event contracts to people in Michigan.

Read these pages:
- https://wagermints.com/polymarket-taxes
- https://wagermints.com/blog/how-to-report-kalshi-polymarket-taxes
- https://wagermints.com/state-taxes/michigan
- https://wagermints.com/legal/polymarket/michigan

My question: How would my year come out under each of the four methods?

How to answer:
- Say which links you opened, and never describe one you didn't open. If one fails, use the facts above and say so.
- Mark each point [linked source], [general tax rule] or [unsettled].
- Put the methods side by side in one table for my year, and state any number you assume.
- Don't pick a method for me. End with questions for a CPA or enrolled agent, then anything you need from me.

WagerMints doesn’t see or store what you type here. The prompt goes to the AI you pick, under that company’s terms. Never add your Social Security number, API keys or wallet keys. AI answers can be wrong, so check them against the linked sources and a preparer.

Questions

Questions about Polymarket in Michigan

Is Polymarket legal in Michigan?

A federal judge denied Polymarket US's injunction request on June 17, 2026; its Sixth Circuit appeal is on hold behind the Kalshi appeals. This reports public records as of Oct 27, 2026, and it isn't legal advice.

Can I still trade on Polymarket in Michigan?

Check the app, because platforms change what they offer by state and by contract type. This page tracks court and regulator actions, not each platform's product list.

Do I owe tax on Polymarket profit in Michigan?

Yes, federal tax applies wherever you live. Michigan taxes gambling winnings and prediction market profits as income (4.25% flat). Gambling losses only reduce your state tax if you itemize, and only up to your winnings.

Does the Michigan legal fight change how my trades are taxed?

No. These cases decide whether Michigan can license or stop the platforms. They don't decide how your trades are taxed. IRS Publication 525 says income from illegal activities must be reported too, so a state's win wouldn't remove tax on profit you already made.

More

Other pages on this

Other platforms in Michigan: Kalshi, Robinhood, Coinbase.

Polymarket in other states: Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and the full list.