Polymarket Referral Code: Use ‘SFA’ for a $25 Trading Bonus (Oct 2026)

The Polymarket referral code in October 2026 is “SFA”. New users can enter the code during signup and deposit $10 or more to receive $25 in trading credit. If you already have a Polymarket account and want to refer a friend, your referral code is your username.

Read on to learn more about the Polymarket sign-up bonus, including how to unlock it and what it's actually worth.

Polymarket Sign-Up Bonus: Quick Summary

Polymarket Promo Code: What Do You Get in October 2026?

The Polymarket new user promo provides $25 in trading credit to traders who sign up with the code “SFA”. The $25 bonus is instantly credited to your account after placing your first $10+ deposit. Trading credits can be used to place trades but are not withdrawable as cash. You can split up your $25 bonus on Polymarket across multiple trades.

Polymarket is a CFTC-regulated prediction market where users trade event contracts based on the outcomes of future events, with prices reflecting the market's implied probability of a binary (YES/NO) outcome. For a deeper look at its markets, fees, comparisons to sportsbooks, and potential risks, read our full Polymarket review.

Note: A Polymarket referral code, promo code, and invite code are all the same thing when you are signing up. They all go into the “Referral code” box to unlock the welcome bonus. Once you have an account, your own referral code to share with friends is just your Polymarket username.

Claiming the Polymarket Bonus: Full Step-by-step Guide

The Polymarket promo is very straightforward to claim. In fact, it's not much different from claiming a sportsbook bonus. Here's a quick step-by-step guide to get you through the process in less than 5 minutes:

1. Download the Polymarket US app.
2. Choose your Google or Apple ID account to continue.
3. Enter the Polymarket referral code “SFA” when prompted.
4. Verify your personal details (KYC verification, including full name, address, birthday, phone number, etc.)
5. Complete identity verification.
6. Deposit at least $10 into your account.
7. The $25 trading bonus will hit your account once your deposit clears (usually instant).

Important: Polymarket requires you to enter the code during registration. You cannot enter any referral or promo code after you’ve already created your account.

The Terms Worth Checking Before You Sign Up & Claim

Here's everything you need to know before you sign up and claim the Polymarket promo code:

• New users only: For first-time Polymarket US accounts (18+).
• Not available in nine states: Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, and Ohio.
• Enter code SFA when you register: You can't add it after your account is created.
• Deposit at least $10: Use a debit card, bank account, or other supported method in your own name.
• No trade required: Your $10 deposit alone unlocks the $25.
• When it arrives: Instant after Polymarket confirms your deposit.
• It isn't cash: Only winnings from the trading credits are withdrawable.
• Where you can use it: Any market available in your state (sports, economy, politics, etc.)
• Expiration: None is listed in Polymarket's public terms. Check the app after it lands.

What is the Polymarket Promo Actually Worth?

The Polymarket bonus is not free money to trade with, nor is it cash you can withdraw. Here's how it actually works:

• You get $35 to trade, not $25 in your pocket: That's your $10 deposit plus the $25 credit. The deposit is still yours and can be withdrawn once it clears, but the credits must be used for trading contracts on the platform.
• The credit only turns into cash through a trade: Use it to buy shares. If your pick wins, the payout becomes withdrawable cash. If it loses, it's gone.
• Only winnings cash out: Successful trades return the profit as withdrawable cash. The initial trading credit stake goes back into your promo balance to be traded again.
• You can sell early: If your shares rise in price, you can sell before the result.
• A heavy favorite at 90¢: $25 buys about 27 shares, which pay about $27.50 if you win ($2.50 profit before fees). You'll usually win, but only a little.
• A close game at 50¢: $25 buys about 48 shares, which pay about $48 if you win ($23 profit before fees). It's roughly a coin flip.
• A longshot at 10¢: $25 buys 250 shares before fees. A winning trade generates $225 in gross profit, with fees reducing the final return. You'll usually lose the credit.

The Bottom line: The $25 welcome offer should be treated as bonus credits for trading rather than cold hard cash. This is especially true since the trading credits never convert to withdrawable cash (only profits can be withdrawn). They can only be used for trading.

Polymarket vs. Kalshi: Which Sign-Up Bonus Offers More Value?

Polymarket US and Kalshi both give new users $25 in trading credits. The real difference is how much of your own money you have to risk, and what happens to the credit after a winning trade. On Polymarket, you just deposit $10 (which you can withdraw later), while Kalshi requires you to place $25 worth of trades.

The verdict: Polymarket's bonus is safer to claim and worth more if you win. The easiest way to see why is to look at the best and worst case scenarios for each:

• Best case on Polymarket: Put $25 credit on a 50¢ pick and it wins. You keep about $23 in profit as cash (after fees), and the $25 credit returns to your account for another trade.
• Best case on Kalshi: The same winning trade gets you about $23 in profit as cash (after fees), but the credit is removed from your account.
• Worst case on Polymarket: Your $25 credit goes on a losing trade. You still have your $10 deposit to withdraw, so you're out nothing.
• Worst case on Kalshi: Your $25 in qualifying trades lose, then the $25 credit loses too. You're out $25 of your own money.

Because the credit keeps coming back after every win, one good run on Polymarket can turn the same $25 into several rounds of profit. On Kalshi, you get one shot. Polymarket also gives you more breathing room. There's no trading deadline to unlock the credit and no listed expiry once it lands. On Kalshi, you have to trade within 30 days, wait for the trades to settle, then use the credit within a week.

Earn More Bonuses by Referring your Friends

Polymarket's referral program is separate from the new user promo. When a friend joins with your Polymarket referral code and makes their first deposit, you each get $25 in trading credit.

• What you each get: $25 in trading credit for you, and $25 for your friend.
• What your friend has to do: Sign up with your code, verify their identity, and deposit at least $10. No trade is required.
• Where to find your code: Your code is your Polymarket US username. You can share it directly or copy your invite link from Settings → Invite friends in the app.
• How many friends you can refer: Up to 50, which is worth as much as $1,250 in trading credit. Your exact limit is shown in the app.
• When the credit arrives: Instantly after your friend completes every step. However, Polymarket may review referrals before paying out.
• Who qualifies: Your friend must be a new user, and you both need verified accounts. Each person can only be referred once.

A new user can enter either a promo code or a friend's referral code when they register, not both. Both are worth $25 to the new user, so using a friend's code costs them nothing and earns you $25 too.

Where Can You Claim the Polymarket Promo Code?

To claim the offer, you must be 18+ and sign up through the Polymarket US app or website. That's Polymarket's U.S. platform. The main Polymarket.com site is a separate international product that U.S. residents are barred from trading on.

Polymarket US itself is available in some form in 49 states (everywhere except Nevada). However, the promo code is not available in these nine states:

• Arizona
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• Ohio

If you live anywhere else, you can sign up and claim the $25 trading credit.

Keep in mind that claiming the bonus and trading every market aren't the same thing. Some states restrict Polymarket's sports contracts while several ongoing lawsuits play out, even where the app works. State availability can change quickly as court cases play out. Check the Polymarket app to see if you are eligible to sign up with the promo code and trade.

Methodology: How We Tested the Polymarket Bonus

To see how the Polymarket US “Deposit $10, Get $25” offer worked in reality, I claimed it myself in October 2026. I signed up with code “SFA”, verified my identity with a driver's license and SSN, and deposited $10 via Apple Pay.

The funds and the $25 credit landed instantly in my account. I then used the credit on three trades across college football markets. I placed a $10 four-leg, parlay-style Combo trade. I took Indiana, Florida, Georgia, and USC to win their Week 6 matchups. I also used the rest of my deposit and bonus funds to place two more spread trades on Georgia and Florida to cover.

Responsible Trading

Polymarket US is a CFTC-regulated exchange, not a state-licensed sportsbook. Therefore, it isn't required to provide the same responsible gambling tools as sportsbooks like DraftKings or FanDuel.

Currently, Polymarket US does not offer any responsible trading tools such as deposit limits, self-exclusion, or timeout periods. If you've enrolled in a state sportsbook self-exclusion program, do not assume it blocks access to Polymarket US; check the rules of your specific program.

The sign-up bonus is trading credit, not free cash, and using it can still expose your deposited funds to loss. If you're concerned about your gambling or trading, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET for confidential support.

Is the Polymarket New User Promo Worth Claiming?

Absolutely. You get a $25 in trading credit from an initial $10 deposit. And you never have to risk that $10 if you don't want to. Few prediction market bonuses are that low-commitment.

Here are the top reasons we recommend claiming the Polymarket promo code:

• You don't have to risk your own money: The deposit only has to sit in your account. If the free trading credits lose, your $10 is still there to withdraw.
• No playthrough or trade requirement: There's no rule requiring you to trade a certain amount or “wager 10 times” before cashing out winnings like at many other sites. Simply use your bonus credits on a trade, and if it wins, withdraw your winnings.
• The credit can work more than once: When a credit trade wins, you keep the profit as cash, and the bonus credit can be used again on more trades until it loses.
• It's an easy way to learn: The credit lets you practice buying, selling early, and holding shares on a prediction market exchange before trading your own money.
• Your friends can earn you more: Once your account is set up, you get $25 for each friend who joins with your referral code and deposits $10+.

It's less worth it if you live in one of the states where the promo isn't offered, or if you mainly bet parlays and player props, where Polymarket offers less than traditional sportsbooks and Kalshi.

However, our advice is to claim both the Polymarket and Kalshi bonuses. You'll start with $50 in credit across the two prediction market apps, and you can compare prices on the same game before every trade.

Polymarket Referral Code | FAQs

Disclosure: The Polymarket code SFA is our affiliate code. We may receive compensation when you sign up through our code.