Election seasons usually involve polls, debates, and predictions that spark public reactions. But what if you could go beyond just talking to putting their money where their mouth is? That’s the idea of Polymarket election trading.
It involves buying and selling shares on real-world electoral outcomes, much like trading stocks. We were impressed when we first heard about it and even more excited that it’s now open to US users. On this page, we’ll reveal how the prediction trading market works and how to take full advantage of it. Keep reading to learn more.
Polymarket Highlights
- Trade on primaries and mid-terms
- Covers elections in US and beyond
- Predictions on world leaders
Must be 18 years or older and have a legal, U.S. residential address within the applicable state, D.C., or U.S. territories. Not available in AZ, IL, MA, MD, MI, MT, NJ, NV and OH.
Key points about Polymarket election trading
- Polymarket election trading involves buying and selling “Yes” and “No” shares that represent contracts on future election events.
- The price of a share is always between 0.00 and 1.00 USDC (USD Coin), and the sum of the event outcomes (Yes + No shares) is 1 USDC.
- The price reflects the real-time probability of that outcome happening based on traders’ sentiments in the market; you’re not trading against the house.
An overview of Polymarket
Polymarket is a decentralized platform that lets you trade on the outcomes of real-world events. This platform has become popular among cryptocurrency users for its unique approach to market predictions and for integrating stablecoins (USDC) into prediction-based trading. If you have tried
Polymarket allows users to trade predictions on:
- Sports
- Entertainment awards
- Political elections
Polymarket operates on the principle that you can share and profit from your insights and opinions on real-world outcomes.
In each market, you buy shares that represent the probability of an event occurring. Each share has a price that reflects traders’ view of how likely an outcome is. If the event happens, winning shares usually pay out $1 per share; if not, they expire.
Due to certain legal troubles, Polymarket was banned in US markets by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for the past four years. Having resolved its past regulatory issues, the body has approved its return to the country. For context, CFTC is also the same body that regulates Kalshi, the platform behind
Kalshi sports prediction markets. Please read our comprehensive
Polymarket review
for more details about this platform.
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Deposit $20 get $50
T&Cs and 18+ apply
Must be 18 years or older and have a legal, U.S. residential address within the applicable state, D.C., or U.S. territories. Not available in AZ, IL, MA, MD, MI, MT, NJ, NV and OH.
Polymarket election trading: How does it work?
On this platform, you simply trade binary event contracts on an outcome: a “Yes” contract or a “No” contract.
Each contract is priced between 0 USDC and 1 USDC, with the price set based on traders’ sentiment for that contract. And the sum of the binary contract equals 1 USDC. Here’s an example of how it works in real-time:
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First, you’ll browse a list of current election markets, such as “Who will win the 20XX US presidential election?” Each market will have two or more possible outcomes; in this case, at least 2 political candidates vying for the White House.
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As explained earlier, each outcome (electoral candidate) has a binary contract.
- If you believe Candidate A will win, you buy “Yes” shares for that contract.
- If you believe Candidate A will not, you buy “No” shares.
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The price of a share is between 0 USDC and 1 USDC. So, if the price is 0.60 USDC on Candidate A to win, that means the market believes there’s a 60% chance of success (and 0.40 USDC or 40% chance of failure).
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To back this sentiment, you decide how many shares of “Candidate A to win: YES” you want to buy. Let’s say you buy 100 shares at $0.60 each, it’ll cost you $60. Please note that the platform charges a small transaction fee, which is usually clearly displayed in the trading interface.
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Here comes the crucial part: the settlement. After the elections occur in real time and a winner is announced, all election-trading contracts on Polymarket will settle. Every correct outcome’s contract is now worth $1 each; incorrect ones are worth $0.00
- If you were right (Candidate A wins), your 100 “YES” shares are now worth $100. You made a $40 profit [Final payout($100) – your cost ($60)]
- If you were wrong (Candidate A loses), your shares are worth $0. Your $60 is gone.
This feature makes Polymarket a zero-sum market. Every dollar won by one trader is a dollar lost by another. No house or “oddsmaker” is behind the scenes taking a cut; the counterparty to each trade is another Polymarket user.
If you’re interested in signing up on this platform and want the best welcome deals, check our
Polymarket promo code
page to see if there’s one available to use.
Selling contracts on Polymarket
As you may have guessed correctly, trading elections on Polymarket feels like buying and selling stocks. You enter (Buy) your position at any time and exit (Sell) even before the event resolves. We’ve covered the buy aspect. Let’s discuss what it means to sell your shares.
Back to our example: “Will Candidate A win?” We’ve backed our belief that this candidate will win with $60 (100 shares at $0.60 each).
Over time, Candidate A starts to lose credibility days before the election, and another candidate is gradually becoming the public’s favourite. Traders’ sentiment will likely change, which can affect the implied probability of the event occurring.
Before long, Candidate A’s “YES” contract now trades at $0.45 (45% chance of winning). That means we could eventually lose $60 when the election occurs and another candidate is declared the winner.
To avoid a total loss, we could cut our losses at the current market price by selling our 100 shares at $0.45. That means we’ll incur a $15 loss (Initial buy price [$60] – current market price [$0.45 x 100 shares]).
The point: Polymarket lets you place a bid to either take a profit or cut your losses before the contract settles. The platform also emphasizes security and transparency in the
prediction-trading
process. It uses the official vote tally and smart contracts on the blockchain to resolve settlements, so no intermediary alters the result or takes a cut.
If you’re ready to try, download the app and read our article on
Polymarket referral code
before getting started. This will give you an idea of how to
refer a friend to Polymarket
and other related stuff.
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Sign up now with Polymarket
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Explore Polymarket election trading markets
Key differences between Polymarket vs traditional sportsbooks
The table below shares four distinctions that stand out in how Polymarket differs from a sportsbook.
| Feature | Polymarket | Traditional sportsbooks |
| Pricing | Driven by traders’ sentiment | Set by a bookmaker |
| Price movement | Dynamic; changes with news and sentiment | Static; odds are locked the moment you place the bet |
| Counterparty | You trade directly with other users | You bet against the bookmaker (the house) |
| Exit flexibility | You can sell your contract at the market price at any time | Cash-out options may be limited or not offered |
3 important things to note before you start
Polymarket election trading
If you want to participate in event prediction trading, here are a few things to note:
🌐 The Role of Cryptocurrency
It’s important to understand that trading on Polymarket involves using digital assets. You’ll need to use a compatible wallet and stablecoins (such as USDC) to fund your account and receive any payouts. If you are new to digital currencies, there’s a learning curve to consider.
📜 Legal & Regulatory Status
It’s important to verify that using Polymarket is legal in your jurisdiction. Interestingly, the platform has officially returned to the US in early December, and we can expect a full rollout of its features soon.
This takes a more active and analytical approach than a simple bet. You should only use funds you’re prepared to lose since contract values fluctuate. As we found in our
PrizePicks rating, things move faster than you’d think. Never invest money meant for essentials or try to chase losses.
How to get started on Polymarket
Polymarket election trading is straightforward. All the buying and selling of contract shares happens on the
Polymarket app, which is available on both the Google Play and App Store. Here’s how you can get started:
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Click the banners on this page to redirect you to the official app download page.
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Download and install the app, then click the sign-up button. You have the option to do so via:
- Google account
- Email address
- Crypto wallet (Trust Wallet, Phantom, MetaMask, and other options)
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Make a cryptocurrency deposit. Polymarket runs on the Polygon blockchain and uses USD Coin (USDC) for all trades.
- You can buy USDC directly on the site through official third-party sites like MoonPay.
- Simply, type the amount of USDC to buy on the MoonPay platform.
- Use your bank cards or bank transfer to make your payments.
- If successful, the USDC appears in your Polymarket account.
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Enter your basic information as required: full name, date of birth, email, phone number, and location.
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After funding, you can start trading immediately on the mobile app.
Pros and cons of Polymarket election trading
With so many features surrounding election trading on Polymarket, here are some pros and a downside to note:
Pros and Cons
- Provides a real-time, market-driven gauge of event probability
- Trade in and out of positions as your views or information change
- Covers a vast array of niche and specific political outcomes
Explore the Polymarket election trading market in the US
Polymarket election trading offers an interesting and modern way to engage with politics. It transforms you from a passive observer into an active participant. Please note that it demands attention and quick reactions to get the best value for your money.
It’s also a fun way to test your political intuition and knowledge. So, if you have strong opinions on certain candidates or electoral views and want to see how your sentiment lines up against other opinions, Polymarket’s election trading is definitely worth exploring. Click the banners on this page to download the mobile app and get started.
Must be 18 years or older and have a legal, U.S. residential address within the applicable state, D.C., or U.S. territories. Not available in AZ, IL, MA, MD, MI, MT, NJ, NV and OH.
FAQs about the Polymarket election trading
🇺🇸 Is Polymarket in the US?
Yes. After a four-year ban by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the platform is now available to US citizens.
💸 How do I cash out from Polymarket?
If you hold a winning contract after an event settles, its value becomes $1.00 per share. You can then click Withdraw and enter your USDC address. Ensure your address supports USDC on the Polygon network.
A sportsbook sets fixed odds, and you wager against the house. On a prediction market site, prices are set by users trading against one another. Each buy or sell move changes the price, which becomes the market’s implied probability that the outcome will happen. You can buy or sell at any time or before the contract ends.
💰 Are there fees for trading in elections on Polymarket?
Yes, Polymarket charges a small fee on settled trades. This fee structure is transparently displayed on their website and within the trading interface, so be sure to review it to understand the costs involved.
