California tribes are pursuing an injunction against prediiction market platform Kalshi in federal court
If successful, the injunction would prohibit Kalshi offering prediction markets on tribal land
Kalshi would be required to geofence its signal around all tribal land in the state
A trio of California tribes has
filed a lawsuit
against prediction market platform Kalshi. If successful, it could prove to be a game-changing maneuver in the battle to halt the rapid expansion of prediction markets in the US.
The Blue Lake Rancheria, Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians, and Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians are seeking a preliminary injunction against Kalshi Inc. and KalshiEX LLC, (collectively, Kalshi). This suit has been filed in United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
The suit alleges that Kalshi is offering illegal sports gambling. Lawyers for the California tribes are asking that the court enjoin Kalshi from offering any sports contracts on tribal lands. These would include, but not be limited to, contracts that facially involve, relate to, or reference the sports of baseball, tennis, pickleball, soccer, basketball, football, golf, chess, esports, hockey, motorsports, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (“UFC”), and any other sports events.
The suit further requests that the Court enjoin Kalshi from offering any yes/no event contracts. These are contracts that ask two specific questions: Will a team win a title? Will a team win an event?
California's tribes control all legal and regulated casino gambling in the state. There is only land-based casino gambling in the state. Online casino gambling and all forms of sports betting are illegal in California.
It would be necessary for Kalshi to geofence California tribal lands
If the California tribes are successful in gaining this temporary injunction, a requirement would be that Kalshi be instituting geofencing technology preventing access to its prediction market platform around all tribal land in the Golden State. This would prevent access to the site by anyone on tribal land.
Lawyers for the tribes argue that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) guarantees control of all gambling activity taking place on tribal lands to the tribes.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Get bonus now
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
New DraftKings Customers: Spend $5+ Get $200 in Bonuses Instantly!
Get bonus now
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 7/19/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
This suit could ultimately have national consequences
A hearing on this motion will be taking place on October 9th at 10 AM PST. Hearing the case will be U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in the San Francisco federal courthouse.
Prediction market platforms such as Kalshi are operating under a federal license from the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). These sites have utilized this fact as a loophole to offer prediction markets. These are event outcome contracts on everything from sports to politics, entertainment, current events, and pop culture.
It's also enabling prediction market sites to offer sports event contracts in states in which approval of the legalization of sports betting hasn't taken place. Legal sports betting sites in the US are all regulated by state gaming commissions. In court, lawyers representing the prediction market sites argue that federal law supersedes any state law.
That's why this suit, if successful, could change the playing field. The tribes are asserting that this is a violation of federal law (IGRA). Lawyers representing the tribes are arguing that the compact these tribes have with the federal government prohibits sports gambling on the Tribes’ reservations or “Indian Lands”, as defined by the IGRA.
Past legal cases against prediction market sites have been tried at the state level. The argument that has proven to be mostly successful for prediction market lawyers in past cases - that federal law supersedes state law - isn't going to apply here.
If the California tribes win the temporary injunction, it will create an opportunity. Tribes in other states are likely to seek similar legal action, using this case as precedent.
Bet $1 and get double the winnings up to $25 for your next 10 bets
USA Players Welcome
Bet now
21+ New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First bet after registration must qualify. Max. Bonus Bet: $1,000. Bonus Bet expires 14 days after receipt. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
USA Players Welcome
Bet now
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
New DraftKings Customers: Spend $5+ Get $200 in Bonuses Instantly!
USA Players Welcome
Bet now
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 7/19/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
USA Players Welcome
Bet now
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelplineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ DC, IA, KY, WV) only. New users only or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Casino, First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Min $5 wager required for 5 consecutive days. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable Bet Reset tokens. Refund from token issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bet that expire 7 days after receipt. Max refund $200 per day. Restrictions apply, including token expiration. See full terms at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Call 1-877-770-7867 (LA).
Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER OR CALL 1-800-MY-RESET, www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), (800)-327-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org (MA), Call (877)8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), (888) 789-7777 or ccpg.org (CT), morethanagame.nc.gov (NC), 1800gambler.net (WV)
The choice is yours!
Choose your preferred platform to be informed about the best odds boosts on a daily basis:
21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
This site is using
Cloudflare
and adheres to the
Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted
Google's Privacy Guidelines
to keep your data safe at all times.
Close
Top 3 Sportsbook Bonuses
BetMGM Promo
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Quick Draft
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
Code:
Open BetMGM
Get Bonus
DraftKings Promo
New DraftKings Customers: Spend $5+ Get $200 in Bonuses Instantly!
Newcomer
T&Cs and 21+ apply
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 7/19/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
Code:
Open DraftKings
Get Bonus
Wanna make consistent profits with online sports betting?
The suit alleges that Kalshi is offering illegal sports gambling. Lawyers for the California tribes are asking that the court enjoin Kalshi from offering any sports contracts on tribal lands. These would include, but not be limited to, contracts that facially involve, relate to, or reference the sports of baseball, tennis, pickleball, soccer, basketball, football, golf, chess, esports, hockey, motorsports, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (“UFC”), and any other sports events.
Daily picks from betting experts on odds boosts and casino promos
