Will Kalshi prediction market be banned in US? Why is state of Utah filing criminal charges?

Kalshi faces legal challenges in multiple US states where gaming regulators have issued cease-and-desist orders or filed suits accusing the platform of operating an unlicensed gambling business. Prosecutors in the western US state of Utah have filed criminal charges against prediction market Kalshi, accusing the company of running an illegal online gambling operation, court documents show.

Wednesday's filing in Utah's Third Judicial District Court charges KalshiEX LLC with a pattern of unlawful activity, along with 12 counts of online gambling promotion, and one misdemeanor count of gambling promotion.

Chief executive Tarek Mansour and chief operating officer Luana Lopes Lara are listed as co-defendants. Federal appeals courts are divided on the issue, and New Jersey has asked the US Supreme Court to settle it.



Kalshi Controversy

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

They have nonetheless become a routine presence in US media and sports, with Kalshi and Polymarket striking partnerships with major news organizations and professional sports leagues such as the National Hockey League.

The charges in Utah stem from an undercover operation in which a state investigator opened a Kalshi account under a false name in September and placed 12 wagers on professional and college sports.


Accusations against Kalshi

According to the filing, Kalshi required the agent to confirm his location before each bet, and he truthfully reported he was in Utah. The company collected a fee on every wager, which prosecutors say amounted to proceeds from illegal gambling.

All forms of gambling are illegal in only two US states: Utah and Hawaii.

The company has argued that its activities are not gambling but something closer to market trading that lets people trade on yes-or-no questions. Kalshi sued Utah in February to block enforcement of the state's gambling laws.

A federal judge ruled against the company in August, and an appeals court refused in September to pause enforcement. The filing says Kalshi kept offering wagers in Utah after both rulings.

The criminal case follows a civil suit filed by Utah Attorney General Derek Brown on October 20, in which his office estimated Kalshi had collected $30.6 million to $61.2 million in fees from Utah users.