Prediction Market Status by State
CFTC-regulated event contracts operate under federal commodities law, which generally preempts conflicting state gambling statutes. A handful of state regulators have challenged that preemption — here is the current map.
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39
Accessible
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18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization.
Last checked October 21, 2026
10
Contested
1
Restricted
| State | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama (AL) | Accessible | CFTC-regulated platforms accessible. No state cease-and-desist on file. |
| Alaska (AK) | Accessible | No state-level prohibition on federally regulated event contracts. |
| Arizona (AZ) | Contested | AZ Department of Gaming issued cease-and-desist letters to Kalshi & Robinhood (2025). Federal litigation pending; platforms remain operational. |
| Arkansas (AR) | Accessible | Open to CFTC-regulated event contracts. |
| California (CA) | Contested | California has objected to certain sports event contracts; federal preemption arguments pending. |
| Colorado (CO) | Accessible | Operators active. No formal state action against CFTC venues. |
| Connecticut (CT) | Contested | Available, dispute pending. The state sued Kalshi (Aug 26, 2026) and on Sept 10, 2026 announced cease-and-desist orders over sports event contracts to nine other companies, including Polymarket, Crypto.com (OG), ProphetX and Novig. |
| Delaware (DE) | Accessible | CFTC-regulated platforms permitted. |
| Florida (FL) | Accessible | Fully accessible 21+. No FL Gaming Control Commission action against CFTC venues. |
| Georgia (GA) | Accessible | Operators active. No state restrictions on event contracts. |
| Hawaii (HI) | Accessible | CFTC-regulated platforms available; HI bans most other forms of gambling. |
| Idaho (ID) | Accessible | No documented state-level restriction on federally licensed exchanges. |
| Illinois (IL) | Accessible | Available. No formal cease-and-desist on file. |
| Indiana (IN) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Iowa (IA) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Kansas (KS) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Kentucky (KY) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Louisiana (LA) | Contested | Louisiana Gaming Control Board has questioned event contract operators; status fluid. |
| Maine (ME) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Maryland (MD) | Contested | Maryland Lottery & Gaming has issued formal letters to event contract operators. |
| Massachusetts — Kalshi, Polymarket US, ProphetX, Novig: Available, dispute pending; OG: Not offered. | ||
| Michigan — Kalshi: Sports contracts blocked by court order (injunction signed 1 Sep 2026); Polymarket US, ProphetX: Available, dispute pending; Novig, OG: Not offered. | ||
| Minnesota (MN) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Mississippi (MS) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Missouri (MO) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Montana (MT) | Contested | MT Department of Justice has challenged sports event contracts. |
| Nebraska (NE) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Nevada — Kalshi: Sports contracts blocked by court order; Polymarket US, ProphetX, Novig, OG: Not offered. | ||
| New Hampshire (NH) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| New Jersey (NJ) | Contested | NJ DGE issued cease-and-desist; federal court ruled in Kalshi's favor (2025). |
| New Mexico (NM) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| New York (NY) | Accessible | Operators active. NY Gaming Commission has not issued formal action. |
| North Carolina (NC) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| North Dakota (ND) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Ohio (OH) | Contested | Ohio Casino Control Commission has issued letters questioning sports contracts. |
| Oklahoma (OK) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Oregon (OR) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Rhode Island (RI) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| South Carolina (SC) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| South Dakota (SD) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Tennessee (TN) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Texas (TX) | Accessible | Operators active. No state action despite no legal sports betting. |
| Utah (UT) | Contested | Utah's strict anti-gambling stance creates tension; CFTC platforms currently accessible but contested. |
| Vermont (VT) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Virginia (VA) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Washington — Kalshi: Sports contracts blocked by court order (sports, elections and several other categories since 19 Aug 2026); others: Available, dispute pending. | ||
| West Virginia (WV) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Wisconsin (WI) | Accessible | Operators active. |
| Wyoming (WY) | Accessible | Operators active. |
Status reflects the public regulatory posture as of the "Updated" date above and is not legal advice. Confirm current eligibility on the operator's signup page before depositing.
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Certain limitations apply. The offer is available to new users only, subject to the terms and conditions at kalshi.com/tc/500. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information.
Full state-specific walkthrough on our Kalshi California bonus page.
FAQ
State Legality Questions
What does 'contested' mean?
"Available, dispute pending
If a state is contested, can I still trade there?
Usually yes for most operators, but state courts have ordered Kalshi to block sports contracts in Nevada, Michigan and Washington, and Polymarket US is barred in Nevada. Always confirm on the operator's signup flow, which performs a real-time geo-eligibility check.
Question:
Kalshi, Polymarket US, ProphetX, OG and Novig accept eligible California residents; status: Available, dispute pending (as of 13 October 2026), because the Ninth Circuit's 28 Aug 2026 Nevada ruling binds California's federal courts and Kalshi has switched off its markets on three tribes' lands. State AGs in NV, AZ, and others have taken a more aggressive posture.
Disclaimer: This page is informational only and is not legal advice. State regulatory posture changes frequently; federal court rulings can shift status overnight. Always verify legality with a qualified attorney before funding an account, and rely on the operator's own real-time geo-check at signup. See our California deep-dive for state-specific detail.
Sources & references
- Commodity Futures Trading Commission — Event Contracts (opens in a new tab) — CFTC.gov
- CFTC rules in the Federal Register (opens in a new tab) — CFTC.gov
- KalshiEX LLC — DCM Registration (opens in a new tab) — CFTC.gov
- Kalshi wins court battle to offer election contracts (opens in a new tab) — Reuters
- Polymarket and the rise of prediction markets (opens in a new tab) — Associated Press
- Prediction markets coverage (opens in a new tab) — Wall Street Journal
External links open in a new tab. We cite primary regulatory and major news sources where possible. Citations to trusted regulators (CFTC, SEC, IRS, NOAA, .gov, .edu) are dofollow; commercial outbound links are not endorsements.
Related reading
- Are Prediction Markets Legal in California?
- Top Prediction Market Apps
- How to Trade Prediction Markets
- Affiliate Disclosure
Frequently asked questions
What does 'contested' mean?
"Available, dispute pending
If a state is contested, can I still trade there?
Usually yes for most operators, but state courts have ordered Kalshi to block sports contracts in Nevada, Michigan and Washington, and Polymarket US is barred in Nevada. Always confirm on the operator's signup flow, which performs a real-time geo-eligibility check.
Why is California's prediction-market access stable while neighboring states are contested?
Kalshi, Polymarket US, ProphetX, OG and Novig accept eligible California residents; status: Available, dispute pending (as of 13 October 2026), because the Ninth Circuit's 28 Aug 2026 Nevada ruling binds California's federal courts and Kalshi has switched off its markets on three tribes' lands. State AGs in NV, AZ, and others have taken a more aggressive posture.
21+ · T&Cs apply · Terms
18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization.