Ninth Circuit Hears Kalshi Appeal Over Nevada Prediction Market Licensing

The Ninth Circuit heard arguments on whether Kalshi’s event contracts fall under exclusive CFTC oversight or Nevada gaming law, a dispute legal observers say could reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

Summary

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit heard oral arguments in Kalshi’s dispute with Nevada over whether its prediction market event contracts are federally regulated swaps or products subject to state gambling rules. Nevada argues Kalshi needs a state gambling license, while Kalshi maintains its contracts fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the CFTC and should not be governed by Nevada gaming law. Legal observers expect the case could eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court, highlighting its potential importance for the regulation of U.S. prediction markets.

Terms & Concepts
  • CFTC: The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the federal regulator overseeing derivatives markets including certain swaps and event contracts.
  • Event contracts: Contracts tied to the outcome of a specific future event, commonly used in prediction markets.
  • Swaps: A class of derivatives that Kalshi argues places its contracts under federal jurisdiction rather than state gaming regulation.