# Is Kalshi Legal in My State? Kalshi and Polymarket US, State by State
Every US state and DC, with the court rulings, lawsuits and regulator letters aimed at Kalshi and at Polymarket US, kept apart. A blank record is not permission, and polymarket.com stays closed to new US trades.
Canonical URL: https://vultax.com/research/prediction-market-legality/united-states
Author: [Vultax Research Team](https://vultax.com/editorial-policy#who)
Published: 2026-10-30
Last public revision: 2026-10-30
AI-assisted drafting, research and editing. Published by OmniOS OÜ. [How we use AI](https://vultax.com/editorial-policy#ai)
Published research snapshots and calculations; these exports do not contain current quotes or live account data. Observation windows and populations are stated in the source captions and methodology. Missing metadata is unknown, not zero. Describes court decisions, lawsuits, regulator letters and venue documents as recorded on 30 October 2026. Complaints are allegations, most rulings are on preliminary relief, and a state with no recorded action is not a state where any contract is lawful. Nothing here is legal or financial advice.
## Key figures
- Federal appeals courts that have ruled for the states: 2 of 3 — The Ninth Circuit for Nevada on 28 August and the Sixth for Ohio and Tennessee on 25 September 2026; the Third Circuit ruled for Kalshi against New Jersey on 6 April. All on preliminary relief
- Supreme Court petitions pending: 3 — Nos. 26-299, 26-338 and 26-344; none had been distributed for a conference when the dockets were read on 30 October 2026
- CFTC interim rule in force: 19 Oct 2026 — Keeps casino-style gambling offered under a state or tribal authorisation outside the definition of a swap; a separate proposal on event contracts is open for comment until 18 November
- polymarket.com for US users: Close-only — The whole United States, in Polymarket's developer documentation; the help page calls it completely restricted
## The short answer
Kalshi and Polymarket US are CFTC-registered exchanges, and both take customers across the country on the argument that federal law, not state gambling law, governs what they list. Many states disagree about sports contracts in particular. Courts have split, and none of the rulings so far is final.
So the answer depends on the state and on the exchange. A court order against Kalshi does not bind Polymarket US, and the reverse. The table below records, for each state and for each exchange separately, the court rulings, lawsuits and regulator letters in the Vultax case record. Where it says there is none, that is not permission: it means Vultax has no authority action on record there, and the state's own gambling law still applies as written.
The international site, polymarket.com, is a third product. Polymarket's documentation allows US users only to close existing positions, everywhere in the country.
## Three products, three legal footings
Read 30 October 2026 from the venues' own documents and the App Store listing. A venue's description of where it operates is not a legal finding.
| Product | Federal footing | What it says about states |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kalshi event contracts | KalshiEX LLC, a CFTC-designated contract market | Its member agreement lists restricted countries and names no US state; limits within the US come from court orders, not from the agreement |
| Polymarket US | QCX LLC, a CFTC-designated contract market, with the app run by QC Tech | The app terms name no excluded state; the App Store listing says "in all 50 states" with the footnote "Trading currently unavailable in NV" |
| polymarket.com (international) | Operated by Blockratize, Inc.; fined by the CFTC in January 2022 for offering event contracts without registration | Close-only for the whole United States in the developer documentation; completely restricted in the help page |
[CSV](https://vultax.com/research/prediction-market-legality/united-states/data.csv?dataset=three-products-table), [JSON](https://vultax.com/research/prediction-market-legality/united-states/data.json?dataset=three-products-table)
## State by state
Each cell is a court ruling, a lawsuit or a regulator's letter naming that exchange, or a federal case that covers it. A complaint is an allegation, and a preliminary injunction is not a final decision. Rows with a Vultax guide link to it; the rest are summaries from the [lawsuit tracker](https://vultax.com/research/prediction-market-lawsuit-tracker), where every case has its docket.
Case record checked 30 October 2026. "None in the Vultax case record" means no authority action on record, not that the exchange is lawful there; most of these states have not yet had a Vultax guide. polymarket.com is close-only in every state.
| State | Kalshi | Polymarket US | Vultax guide |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Alabama | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Alaska | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Arizona | A federal court barred Arizona's criminal and civil enforcement against CFTC-registered exchanges on 5 May 2026, in the United States and CFTC's suit; Kalshi's own request was refused; on appeal | Not named; the 5 May order in the federal government's suit concerns CFTC-registered exchanges generally | No guide yet |
| Arkansas | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| California | No state order; the Ninth Circuit held on 16 September 2026 that two tribes are likely to win for contracts entered from their land, and sent the injunction back to the district court | None in the Vultax case record | [California guide](https://vultax.com/research/prediction-market-legality/united-states/california) |
| Colorado | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Connecticut | State suit (allegations), removed to federal court, remand pending; Kalshi's own injunction request refused on 7 August 2026, on appeal; the United States and CFTC are suing the state (allegations) | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Delaware | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| District of Columbia | None in the Vultax case record | No authority action; a private class action against both Polymarket companies (allegations) | No guide yet |
| Florida | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Georgia | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Hawaii | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Idaho | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Illinois | The United States and CFTC are suing Illinois over enforcement against registered exchanges, Kalshi among them (allegations, no ruling); a private gambling-loss suit is in Cook County court | Among the exchanges in the same federal suit; the Illinois Gaming Board sent a cease-and-desist letter addressed to Polymarket on 27 January 2026 | No guide yet |
| Indiana | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Iowa | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Kansas | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Kentucky | The United States and CFTC are suing Kentucky over enforcement against registered exchanges, Kalshi among them (allegations, no ruling) | State suit (allegations), removed to federal court, remand pending; also among the exchanges in the federal suit | No guide yet |
| Louisiana | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Maine | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Maryland | Kalshi's injunction request refused; the Fourth Circuit heard the appeal on 7 May 2026 and has not ruled; Baltimore's suit (allegations), removed | Baltimore's suit (allegations), removed to federal court; no ruling | No guide yet |
| Massachusetts | State-court preliminary injunction of 20 January 2026 against sports contracts offered without a licence; appeal at the Supreme Judicial Court; stayed meanwhile, according to a federal court in Connecticut | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Michigan | The Attorney General's suit is back in state court; a state-court preliminary injunction of 1 September 2026 requiring geofencing of sports contracts has been reported, order not read | Under a court-approved stipulation, no new sports-related contracts for Michigan customers and open positions closed by 25 November 2026 (Gaming Control Board, 28 October); its appeal is pending | No guide yet |
| Minnesota | Federal preliminary injunctions of 27 July 2026 bar Minnesota from enforcing its prediction-market law against CFTC-registered exchanges until a final decision | Covered by the same 27 July injunctions; Polymarket US brought one of the three suits | No guide yet |
| Mississippi | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Missouri | The Attorney General's cease-and-desist letter in mid-September 2026, calling sports contracts unlicensed sports wagering | Letter addressed to Polymarket in the same mid-September round | No guide yet |
| Montana | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Nebraska | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Nevada | The Ninth Circuit upheld the end of Kalshi's injunction on 28 August 2026; the state's own suit is back in state court, Kalshi's appeal pending | State-court restraining order against Polymarket's companies on 29 January 2026, case back in state court, appeal pending; its App Store listing says trading is unavailable in Nevada | No guide yet |
| New Hampshire | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| New Jersey | The Third Circuit upheld Kalshi's injunction against the state on 6 April 2026; New Jersey's Supreme Court petition, No. 26-299, is pending | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| New Mexico | The United States and CFTC are suing the state (allegations, no ruling); a tribes' suit against Kalshi is under advisement | Polymarket sued the state in federal court on 2 July 2026 (reported) | No guide yet |
| New York | State petition (allegations), removed, remand undecided; Kalshi's own injunction request refused on 7 July 2026, on appeal; the United States and CFTC are suing the state (allegations) | State petition of September 2026 alleging illegal gambling, including by 18- to 20-year-olds (allegations), removed; Polymarket US's own suit against state officials, no ruling | No guide yet |
| North Carolina | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| North Dakota | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Ohio | The Sixth Circuit upheld the refusal of Kalshi's injunction on 25 September 2026; Kalshi has asked the full court to rehear it (reported) | Casino Control Commission cease-and-desist letter of 2 October 2026; Polymarket US sued state officials on 16 October, no ruling | No guide yet |
| Oklahoma | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Oregon | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Pennsylvania | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Rhode Island | Kalshi's suit against state officials; the United States and CFTC moved to join it | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| South Carolina | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| South Dakota | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Tennessee | The Sixth Circuit set aside Kalshi's injunction on 25 September 2026; the Sports Wagering Council sent Kalshi a cease-and-desist letter | Sports Wagering Council cease-and-desist letter addressed to Polymarket (reported) | No guide yet |
| Texas | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | [Texas guide](https://vultax.com/research/prediction-market-legality/united-states/texas) |
| Utah | Kalshi's case against state officials is on appeal in the Tenth Circuit (KalshiEX v. Cox); on 27 October 2026 the CFTC sued to stop Utah's state-court enforcement against CFTC-registered markets | Not named; the CFTC's 27 October suit names no exchange | No guide yet |
| Vermont | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Virginia | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Washington | State-court preliminary injunction of 12 August 2026: Kalshi must stop offering sports, election and other listed contracts in Washington | None in the Vultax case record | [Washington guide](https://vultax.com/research/prediction-market-legality/united-states/washington) |
| West Virginia | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
| Wisconsin | State suit, removed, remand and injunction motions pending; a tribe's suit, injunction refused; the United States and CFTC's injunction request against the state refused on 28 July 2026 | State suit, removed to federal court; remand and transfer motions pending | No guide yet |
| Wyoming | None in the Vultax case record | None in the Vultax case record | No guide yet |
[CSV](https://vultax.com/research/prediction-market-legality/united-states/data.csv?dataset=state-table-table), [JSON](https://vultax.com/research/prediction-market-legality/united-states/data.json?dataset=state-table-table)
## What the courts have said
Three federal appeals courts have ruled on whether a state can treat a sports contract on a CFTC-registered exchange as unlicensed betting. The Third Circuit said no, for Kalshi against New Jersey, on 6 April 2026. The Ninth Circuit said yes for Nevada on 28 August, and the Sixth Circuit said yes for Ohio and Tennessee on 25 September. All three were appeals about preliminary relief, not final judgments.
Three petitions ask the Supreme Court to settle whether federal law displaces state gambling law for these contracts. Responses are due on 13 and 16 November 2026 in two of them; in the third, New Jersey's (No. 26-299), the response is due on 9 November, and Kalshi asked on 29 October, unopposed, to move it to 7 December. Until the Court acts, the same contract can be offered in one state and restrained in the next.
Tribal land is a separate question. On 16 September the Ninth Circuit held that two California tribes are likely to win their claim under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act for Kalshi sports contracts entered from their land. A Wisconsin federal court reached a similar view for the Ho-Chunk Nation but refused an injunction.
## What the CFTC has done
On 19 October 2026 the CFTC published two measures. An interim final rule, in force that day, keeps casino-style gambling products offered under a state or tribal gambling authorisation outside the definition of a swap. A separate proposed rule would add specified event contracts to that definition. Comments on both close on 18 November.
The Commission has also gone to court on the exchanges' side. The United States and the CFTC have sued eight states and moved to join Kalshi's suit against Rhode Island, and on 27 October the CFTC sued Utah to stop its state-court enforcement against CFTC-registered markets, saying it had already acted against nine other states. Federal injunctions now bar Arizona and Minnesota from enforcing against registered exchanges; a Wisconsin court refused one.
## How to read your state's row
- A court order against one exchange - It binds that exchange only. Washington's injunction is against Kalshi, and Michigan's stipulation is with Polymarket US.
- A lawsuit with no ruling - The state's complaint is an allegation, and the exchange keeps operating unless a court orders otherwise or it chooses to stop.
- A federal injunction for the exchanges - In Arizona and Minnesota the state may not enforce against CFTC-registered exchanges for now; that is preliminary relief, not a final ruling.
- No action on record - The state's gambling law has not been tested against that exchange. It is not a ruling that the contracts are lawful, and a guide for the state may find more.
- polymarket.com - Close-only everywhere in the United States, and Polymarket's help page says using a VPN to get around location limits breaks its terms.
## Method and limits
The table is built from the Vultax lawsuit tracker, which checks each case against the court record, and from the state attorneys general, regulators, the CFTC, the Supreme Court dockets and the venues' documents read on 30 October 2026. Cells marked reported rest on press coverage. States with no case on record were not searched one by one; their guides will be added in turn, starting with those where search demand or a known action is highest.
This page describes legal documents; it is not legal advice. Challenge a line at research@vultax.com.
## Questions
### Which states have acted against Kalshi?
A Washington court has ordered it to stop offering sports, election and several other kinds of contracts there, and a Michigan court is reported to have ordered it to geofence sports contracts. A Massachusetts injunction against its sports contracts is on hold during an appeal, according to a federal court in Connecticut, and several states are suing it. A state with no action on record has not ruled its contracts lawful.
### Which states have acted against Polymarket US?
New York, Wisconsin, Kentucky and the City of Baltimore have sued it, Ohio has sent it a cease-and-desist letter, Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee sent letters addressed to Polymarket, and in Michigan it agreed in a court-approved stipulation to stop new sports-related contracts and close positions by 25 November 2026. Its App Store listing says trading is unavailable in Nevada.
### Can I use polymarket.com in the US?
Only to close existing positions, under Polymarket's developer documentation; its help page calls the United States completely restricted. Polymarket US is the separate app for US users.
### Has the Supreme Court decided whether states can ban sports event contracts?
No. Three petitions are pending, and none had been distributed for a conference by 30 October 2026.
## Sources and methodology
- [Vultax: Prediction market lawsuit tracker](https://vultax.com/research/prediction-market-lawsuit-tracker) — Every case Vultax follows, each checked against the court record
- [Vultax: Is Polymarket legal in the US?](https://vultax.com/research/is-polymarket-legal-in-the-us-2026)
- [Kalshi: Member Agreement, Section VI, version of 1 Oct 2026 (read 30 Oct 2026)](https://kalshi-public-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/regulatory/agreement/kalshi_member_agreement.pdf) — Kalshi's public regulatory copy; 55 places where trading event contracts is restricted, a list last changed on 22 June 2026. The venue's own policy, not a finding about local law
- [Polymarket US: app terms of service, effective 23 Oct 2026](https://polymarket.us/tos) — QC Tech's app, separate from the QCX exchange and QC Clearing; section 3 sets age, eligibility and identity checks
- [Polymarket Exchange (QCX): rulebook dated 30 Sep 2026](https://polymarketexchange.com/files/legal/latest/rulebook) — 84 pages; rule 3.1 sets participant eligibility
- [Apple App Store: Polymarket US app listing (read 30 Oct 2026)](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/polymarket-trade-live-sports/id6648798962) — Says "in all 50 states*" with the footnote "Trading currently unavailable in NV"; the Google Play listing has no Nevada note
- [Polymarket documentation: geographic restrictions (read 30 Oct 2026)](https://docs.polymarket.com/api-reference/geoblock) — Blocked, close-only and website-only close-only lists for polymarket.com; does not cover Polymarket US
- [Polymarket Help Center: geographic restrictions (read 30 Oct 2026)](https://help.polymarket.com/en/articles/13364163-geographic-restrictions) — Updated 29 Oct 2026; headed 40 countries completely restricted but listing 41 codes, and differs from the developer documentation
- [Michigan Gaming Control Board: Polymarket backs down in Michigan (28 Oct 2026)](https://www.michigan.gov/mgcb/news/2026/10/28/polymarket-backs-down-in-michigan) — Polymarket US agreed to stop new sports-related contracts for Michigan customers and close open positions by 25 November 2026; a stipulation approved in the Western District of Michigan, with the Sixth Circuit appeal pending
- [CFTC: release 9315-26, suit over Utah's enforcement against CFTC-registered markets (27 Oct 2026)](https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9315-26)
- [CFTC: interim final rule excluding casino-style gambling, 91 FR 65969 (19 Oct 2026)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-10-19/html/2026-21376.htm) — RIN 3038-AF81; in effect from 19 October 2026 (release 9309-26); comments close 18 November
- [CFTC: proposed rule on event contracts, 91 FR 66022 (Federal Register, 19 Oct 2026)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-10-19/pdf/2026-21377.pdf) — RIN 3038-AF82; announced 9 October (release 9310-26); a proposal, comments close 18 November 2026
- [Supreme Court docket 26-299, Flaherty v. KalshiEX (read 30 Oct 2026)](https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/26-299.html) — Response due 9 November 2026; on 29 October Kalshi asked, unopposed, to move it to 7 December
- [Supreme Court docket 26-338, Robinhood Derivatives v. Dreitzer (read 30 Oct 2026)](https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/26-338.html) — Response due 13 November 2026
- [Supreme Court docket 26-344, North American Derivatives Exchange (Crypto.com) v. Nevada (read 30 Oct 2026)](https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/26-344.html) — Response due 16 November 2026
- [Kalshi's request to extend the time to respond in No. 26-299 (letter of 29 Oct 2026)](https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/26/26-299/431233/20261029183513514_2026-10-29%20Flaherty%20v%20KalshiEX%20LLC%20Extension%20Request.pdf) — Asks to move the brief in opposition from 9 November to 7 December 2026; not yet granted when read on 30 October