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A lot of Polymarket’s users have never traded anything before.
Polymarket says so itself. And as of Wednesday, those users have new ways to slow down — or step away entirely.
The prediction market added self-exclusion, deposit limits and a treatment partner for people dealing with compulsive trading. Olivia Chalos, Polymarket’s deputy chief legal officer, told CNN why that matters for this crowd:
“You’re seeing a user base that did not previously participate in financial markets coming in, and doing this at scale. With that, there are measures that need to be in place, because you’re recognizing an audience that is participating in markets for the first time.”
So if Polymarket is your first trading app, here’s what’s now available.
What Polymarket self-exclusion does
Self-exclusion locks you out of the platform. You pick the length: anywhere from 30 days to a year, or permanently, according to the company.
Not a pop-up reminder or a nudge to take a breather. It’s a lockout.
If that sounds like something you’d find on a sportsbook app, it is. Licensed sportsbooks offer similar tools, and Polymarket’s version arrives as states push to treat prediction markets more like gambling.
Can you set a deposit limit on Polymarket?
Yes, if you’re in the US. You can cap deposits by the day, week or month, and the cap applies to every funding method.
Lowering a limit takes effect immediately. Raising or removing one requires a cooling-off period, Polymarket said.
That’s by design. A limit that’s easy to tighten and slow to loosen can create a barrier to impulsive decisions.
Where to get help with compulsive trading
Polymarket partnered with Birches Health to offer treatment for compulsive financial trading. The company said Birches provides virtual care in all 50 states, including clinical assessments, individualized recovery plans and ongoing treatment.
Polymarket’s new Trust & Safety Center describes the care as confidential, fully online and potentially covered by insurance.
The company is also developing a co-branded Trading Responsibly guide. It includes a four-question self-check designed to help users recognize when it might be time to seek support.
How Polymarket compares to other prediction markets
Polymarket isn’t the first prediction market to add these tools. Kalshi joined the National Council on Problem Gambling in May, committing $2 million and pledging:
- Trading breaks
- Self-limits
- Self-exclusion
- Mental health resources
Age is another difference. Most prediction markets let users trade at 18, according to Legal Sports Report. Novig is the only one that sets its minimum age at 21, matching the legal sports betting age in most states.
The rollout also comes a week after New York sued Polymarket, accusing it of running an illegal gambling operation. Polymarket filed a federal countersuit hours later.
None of that changes what’s on the app today. For someone trading for the first time, these tools are available before the first deposit, rather than after.
And Polymarket isn’t calling this finished. Malea Otranto, the company’s global head of trust and safety, said in a statement:
“That is what launched today, and it is the floor, not the ceiling. We’re excited to continue to build out from here.”
