New York state sues prediction market platform Kalshi over ‘illegal’ gambling

Washington – New York’s attorney-general sued prediction market platform Kalshi on July 31, accusing it of running an illegal gambling platform that exposes New Yorkers to “serious personal and financial risk”.

Prediction markets have rapidly broken into the mainstream in the United States, positioning themselves as an alternative to both traditional polling and licensed sports betting.

New York-based Kalshi calls itself a federally regulated “event contracts” exchange rather than a traditional sportsbook, a distinction that has fuelled ongoing legal battles with state regulators.

Attorney-General Letitia James said New York’s gambling laws protect children from underage betting and help fight gambling addiction.

“No matter what they call themselves, prediction markets like Kalshi are gambling platforms, plain and simple,” she said in a media statement.

“By ignoring our laws, Kalshi is running an illegal operation and harming New Yorkers in the process.”

The lawsuit asked the court to order Kalshi to halt its operation, make restitution to customers, forfeit all illegal gains and pay fines equal to treble those gains.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said Kalshi has “chosen to ignore New York’s gaming laws... This choice has consequences.”

Kalshi representative Elisabeth Diana said on July 31 that the lawsuit would hurt New Yorkers, who would be “driven offshore”.

“It’s sad to see this type of political theatre from the leadership in our own state. States can’t just shut down a federally licensed exchange,” she said in a statement.

Kalshi faces similar legal challenges in multiple US states where gaming regulators have issued cease-and-desist orders or filed suit accusing the platform of operating an unlicensed gambling business.

The company has argued that its activities are not gambling but something closer to market trading, using “event contracts” that let people trade on yes-or-no questions.

Platforms such as Kalshi and its biggest rival Polymarket remain illegal or unregulated in most countries outside the US. AFP