Refunds

Polymarket may refund users at its discretion. Refunds are typically issued when a market cannot be resolved as intended or has been affected by a technical error.

Announcement

Refunds are announced through Polymarket notifications and the official Discord channel. Major cases may also be posted on X. The announcement includes details such as eligibility, timing, and refund method.

Refund Types

There are two main types of refunds: initial cost and being made whole.

Initial Cost

This is the most common refund type. It applies when a market is released with faulty rules, posted too late, removed before resolution, or its rules change after launch.

Example: Polymarket released SCOTUS agrees to hear a conversion therapy ban case in 2025? hours after the Supreme Court had already agreed to hear the case, making the market dead-on-arrival.

Being Made Whole

In rare cases, Polymarket may decide to make users whole when a market resolves incorrectly.

Example: In Astros vs. Dodgers, the market resolved incorrectly to Dodgers when the Astros actually won. Polymarket made Dodgers holders whole by refunding them $1 for each share they held.

Refund Issuance

Refunds apply only to trades made before the announcement. If Polymarket pre-announces a clarification, refunds cover trades made before the pre-announcement. Orders placed afterward are not eligible for refunds and are made at the trader's own risk.

When Refunds Are Not Issued

Refunds are not issued for markets that are simply controversial or disputed. This includes cases where traders disagree over interpretation, qualification, or unclear wording.

Example: In Will Zelenskyy wear a suit before July?, traders disagreed on whether his outfit qualified as a "suit." Because the market rules did not clearly define the term, traders disagreed on whether to interpret the rules broadly or narrowly. The market resolved to No, and Polymarket did not issue refunds.

Market Resolution

When refunds are issued, the market outcome remains the same. Refunds typically apply to shareholders on the losing side, while the winning side can redeem their shares as usual.

Example: In Supreme Court unblocks Alien Enemies Act?, the market resolved to No, but refunds were issued for the Yes side because the market was posted too late and could not resolve correctly.