A neutral, dated read on whether a New Hampshire resident can use Manifold Markets. Manifold is a play money prediction market built on a virtual currency called mana, which carries no cash value, so it sits outside gambling and securities law and is open nationwide. Information, not advice. As of May 2026.
Last reviewed 26 May 2026 · Status as of May 2026 · Information, not legal advice
Manifold Markets is a play money prediction market, and that is the whole reason a New Hampshire resident can use it. Trades settle in a virtual currency called mana, which has no cash value and cannot be converted into dollars, crypto or gift cards, its only real world use being charitable donation (per Manifold documentation and 2026 reviews). Because no money is at stake, the activity does not meet the consideration and prize elements that define gambling, so it sits outside the rules that the New Hampshire Lottery Commission applies to the state licensed sports betting it has overseen since 2019, and outside CFTC oversight of event contracts. Manifold closed its brief real money sweepcash programme on 28 March 2025 and returned to a mana only model, which keeps it clear of the licensing that real money operators in New Hampshire must hold.
As of May 2026, Manifold Markets is generally available to a New Hampshire resident. It is a play money platform whose currency, mana, has no cash value and cannot be cashed out, so it is not gambling under New Hampshire law and is not regulated by the CFTC. New Hampshire runs sports betting through its Lottery Commission, but that licensing regime does not touch a no stakes forecasting site, so a resident can generally sign up and trade in mana at no cost.
We mark contested questions where they exist. The open debates in New Hampshire concern federally regulated sports event contracts and the Lottery Commission run sportsbook, a separate category. Manifold is play money with no cash value, so those debates do not reach it, and its availability to a New Hampshire reader is settled rather than contested.
Manifold is genuinely available to a New Hampshire reader, so we list it next to the United States regulated venues you might also weigh. Manifold itself is play money and cannot pay cash, while the others are real money platforms under federal oversight. This list comes after the information, we run no paid placements, and you should confirm your eligibility before you act.
Manifold runs on play money and cannot pay cash. The other venues are real money platforms under federal oversight, and specific products can vary by state. Scores are illustrative editorial examples, not advice. Confirm the current position before acting.
As of May 2026, yes, generally. Manifold is a play money prediction market whose currency, mana, has no cash value, so it sits outside New Hampshire gambling law and CFTC oversight and is open across the United States. This is general information, not legal advice.
No. Mana is a play money currency that cannot be converted to cash, crypto or gift cards. Its only real world use is charitable donation, which is why the platform stays clear of gambling rules.
Because it uses play money with no cash value, Manifold does not meet the prize element that defines gambling, so New Hampshire gambling law does not reach ordinary use. We cannot give legal advice, so confirm your own position if unsure.
Briefly. Manifold ran a sweepstakes programme called sweepcash from September 2024, then shut it down on 28 March 2025 and returned to a mana only model. As of May 2026 it is play money only.
Mana has no cash value, so ordinary play does not create cash income. We do not give tax advice. If your situation is unusual, confirm the current rules with a qualified tax professional.
Manifold runs on play money, so you cannot win or lose cash on it, yet the wider category still carries a warning worth keeping. Treating forecasting as easy income is a habit that travels badly to the real money venues nearby, where contracts settle to zero and losses are permanent. Use Manifold to learn how prices and probabilities behave, not as a stepping stone to chase money. You must be 18+ or the legal age in your region. If betting has stopped being fun, in the United States you can call or text the helpline on 1-800-GAMBLER or visit ncpgambling.org.
The position above rests on Manifold being a play money platform whose mana has no cash value, which keeps it outside gambling and CFTC oversight, and on New Hampshire state law not reaching virtual currency play. Confirm it yourself before you act, because platform models can change.
Status as of May 2026. General information, not legal advice.