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29 Mar 2025

I've been trying to find clarity on this but its still quite unclear to me.


If I make money on Polymarket, how is that income taxed? It seems to me that it could be all sorts of different ways, maybe even not at all if its considered gambling? Its very unclear to me.


I found this question:

https://community.ato.gov.au/s/question/a0JRF000001vnWT2AY/p00318288?referrer=a0N9s000000DacDEAS


But all the response says is that you wouldn't pay CGT on the gambling activities, and directs people to a link that still doesn't offer clarity. It and other things I've seen seem to indicate that holding tokens can be considered an investment and taxed as such, but you don't make money on Polymarket through speculation and tokens changing in value you make it through betting.


The example given on the page uses a lottery and seems to indicate that the money made from Polymarket is untaxed and only gains in value of tokens (which there are none on Polymarket) would be taxed.


Is Polymarket considered similar to this lottery?

If so does that mean money made from Polymarket bets are untaxed?

If not what are they taxed under?

If they are taxed, does how long I hold the tokens matter?

Would it matter if I withdrew to fiat currency or is it taxed the same regardless of if I do so?

Does it matter how long a bet lasts?

Is it taxed the same way regardless of how I participate on Polymarket, or do my specific activities impact my taxation?

8,304 views
7 replies
8,304 views
7 replies

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Most helpful replyATO Certified Response

RachelATO(Community Moderator)Community Moderator
ATO Certified Response1 Apr 2025

Hi @InterestedHere,


USDC (a stablecoin) is a crypto asset. The community post you referenced has suggested a private ruling because how each person acquires and uses crypto will be different.


As an example, this page explains what happens when a crypto asset is a personal use asset.


The crypto assets and prize winnings page confirms that if you win a crypto asset, you may subsequently hold it as an investment. If you dispose of it, your crypto investment may be subject to CGT. You're likely to make a capital gain or capital loss on the disposal.


We have a taxation determination discussing that bitcoin is not a foreign currency. And another that confirms bitcoin is a CGT asset. These may help you figure out how the use of stablecoin applies to your situation.

All replies

29 Mar 2025

Hi @InterestedHere,


Polymarket, after a quick google search is ultimately a Cryptocurrency exchange and is most likely subject to the same rules of buying, selling, swapping, gifting, trading and sharing.


But I'm no expert. 👌

30 Mar 2025

Is it? That seems to contradict the comment from the other question. This confusion is exactly why I asked the question.


It uses crypto, but you're not trading crypto, instead you use it to bet on events, which pay out if they do/do not happen.


Polymarket uses USDC, which is a stablecoin, meaning that it doesn't fluctuate in value by any noticeable amount.

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How is money made from Polymarket taxed? | ATO Community