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Is Kalshi legal in Connecticut?

Status as of September 25, 2026 · every line has its source and date · not legal advice

Status at a glance

Kalshi is reported live in Connecticut, including sports, for now: a federal judge denied Kalshi's preliminary injunction in August 2026 and the state sued Kalshi on 2026-08-26, but the state court refused an immediate ban and the case now sits in federal court pending a remand decision, while Kalshi's Second Circuit injunction motion is pending. Polymarket US status is unclear because reputable outlets conflict.

What the status rests on

• CBS Sports lists Connecticut as 'Live*' and says sports markets are available to traders there as of writing, though ongoing litigation could change that. Are sports prediction markets legal? Status of Kalshi and Polymarket in all 50 states (news), September 24, 2026
• In the State's removed enforcement case, the federal court stayed all deadlines until it rules on remand, and no injunction against Kalshi appears on the docket. State of Connecticut v. KalshiEX LLC, 3:26-cv-01382 (D. Conn.) docket, ECF No. 39, September 17, 2026
• The Second Circuit denied Kalshi a temporary injunction and sent its motion for an injunction pending appeal to a three-judge panel, which had not ruled as of the latest indexed entry (Sept. 8, 2026). KalshiEX LLC v. Cafferelli, No. 26-2239 (2d Cir.) docket, September 8, 2026
• The Superior Court denied the State's ex parte temporary restraining order, which would have banned Kalshi's sports contracts in Connecticut without a hearing. Connecticut Sues Kalshi In State Court, But Judge Rejects Request For Immediate Sports Contracts Ban (news), August 27, 2026
• The State's verified complaint alleges Kalshi has offered sports wagers to Connecticut residents through kalshi.com and its app since January 2025. State of Connecticut v. KalshiEX LLC, Verified Complaint (Conn. Super. Ct., J.D. of Hartford), filed as ECF No. 1-1 in 3:26-cv-01382, August 26, 2026

What has happened in Connecticut

Good to know

• Connecticut requires anyone doing online or in-person gaming or sports wagering to be at least 21. Connecticut Consumer Protection Orders Cease and Desist Conducting Unlicensed Online Gambling
• The State's complaint alleges Kalshi opens its platform to anyone 18 or older, while Connecticut bars sports wagering under 21 (C.G.S. 12-863(a)(1)). State of Connecticut v. KalshiEX LLC, Verified Complaint (Conn. Super. Ct., J.D. of Hartford), filed as ECF No. 1-1 in 3:26-cv-01382
• Only DraftKings (Foxwoods), FanDuel (Mohegan Sun) and Fanatics (Connecticut Lottery) are licensed to offer sports wagering in Connecticut. Connecticut Consumer Protection Orders Cease and Desist Conducting Unlicensed Online Gambling
• On May 26, 2026, the Mohegan Tribe and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation moved to join the CFTC's suit against Connecticut as defendants; the State consented and the CFTC opposed. Motion for Leave to Intervene by Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, ECF No. 53, 3:26-cv-00498 (D. Conn.)
• In the CFTC's suit, Connecticut moved to dismiss on June 3, 2026, and Governor Lamont was dropped as a defendant by stipulation on June 25, 2026. USA v. State of Connecticut, 3:26-cv-00498 (D. Conn.) docket, ECF Nos. 80 and 85
• Sections 1-3 of Public Act 26-82, effective Oct. 1, 2026, raise CUTPA restitution limits and add sports-wagering provisions to the state's cheating statute. CGA Bill Status: Public Act No. 26-82 (SB 296, 2026)
• Kalshi's head of litigation said Connecticut 'just filed this lawsuit to shut down Kalshi immediately, but they're okay with other prediction markets operating there.' CT sues Kalshi over unlicensed sports betting (news)

State regulator: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Gaming Division. Issued the December 2025 cease-and-desist orders; the Attorney General sues at the DCP Commissioner's request under C.G.S. 12-861(c).

The federal picture

Kalshi has been a CFTC-designated contract market since November 4, 2020 (CFTC release 8302-20). Whether states may still apply their gambling laws to sports event contracts is being decided in the courts, and the federal appeals courts do not agree yet:

• September 25, 2026: Pending appellate decisions that could change several states' status: Sixth Circuit (Kalshi v. Ohio, No. 26-3196, and Kalshi v. Tennessee, No. 26-5235; argued 2026-07-30), Fourth Circuit (Kalshi v. Maryland, No. 25-1892; argued 2026-05-07), Second Circuit (Kalshi's New York and Connecticut appeals, Nos. 26-1835 and 26-2239, heard in tandem), Seventh Circuit (CFTC and Kalshi appeals from the Wisconsin injunction denial, No. 26-2636 et al.), Tenth Circuit (Kalshi v. Utah, No. 26-4100). No decision in any of these appeared in the court records checked for this file (CourtListener; indexes can lag PACER by a few days). CourtListener dockets cited in the Ohio, Tennessee, Maryland, New York, Connecticut, Wisconsin and Utah entries
• September 16, 2026: Ninth Circuit (Blue Lake Rancheria v. Kalshi, Inc., No. 25-7504; Murguia, McKeown, Paez; opinion by Judge McKeown) affirmed in part and reversed in part the denial of two California tribes' preliminary-injunction motion, holding the tribes likely to succeed in showing Kalshi's sports event contracts entered from tribal lands are class III gaming offered in violation of IGRA and their gaming procedures; the case was remanded for the remaining injunction factors, so no injunction had issued as of the last docket entry checked. Blue Lake Rancheria v. Kalshi, Inc., No. 25-7504 (9th Cir. Sept. 16, 2026) - published opinion (PDF)
• September 9, 2026: Kalshi petitioned for panel rehearing and rehearing en banc of the Ninth Circuit's 2026-08-28 Nevada decision (KalshiEX, LLC v. Assad, No. 25-7516); Montana's 2026-09-17 enforcement pause is tied to the outcome of that request. KalshiEX, LLC v. Assad, No. 25-7516 (9th Cir.) docket, entry 206 (CourtListener); Joint Stipulation of Dismissal, KalshiEX LLC v. Knudsen (D. Mont.), Doc. 35
• September 2, 2026: New Jersey petitioned the US Supreme Court for certiorari in Flaherty v. KalshiEX, LLC (No. 26-299, docketed 2026-09-08); Kalshi's response deadline was extended to 2026-11-09; an amicus brief was filed 2026-09-22 by the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States. Supreme Court docket No. 26-299
• August 28, 2026: Ninth Circuit (KalshiEX, LLC v. Assad, No. 25-7516; opinion by Judge R. Nelson, with Judges Bade and Lee; Lee concurring) affirmed in part the District of Nevada's order dissolving Kalshi's preliminary injunction, holding the CEA likely does not preempt Nevada gaming law as applied to Kalshi's sports event contracts (which it described as sports bets, not 'swaps'), and remanded for the district court to consider Nevada's challenges to Kalshi's election contracts. Nevada's regulator described the ruling as a 3-0 decision also covering Crypto.com and Robinhood. KalshiEX, LLC v. Assad, No. 25-7516 (9th Cir. Aug. 28, 2026) - published opinion (PDF)

How sure is this page? Confidence: medium. Kalshi's status and the court events are confirmed by official dockets, the AG release and a Sept. 24 CBS report, but Polymarket's status rests on one news report and Kalshi's position could change once the remand motion and the Second Circuit injunction motion are decided. Researched September 25, 2026; court cases can change the status at any time, so check Kalshi's app before you trade.

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