Kentucky sues Kalshi and Polymarket over prediction-market sports bets

Kentucky's attorney general sued Kalshi and Polymarket, accusing the platforms of offering illegal sports betting without a license and joining a growing list of states taking legal action. The state also said the companies and their partners — naming Coinbase, Robinhood and Webull — do not offer resources for people with gambling problems as required under local law.

'Kalshi and Polymarket are operating illegal sportsbooks in Kentucky and breaking our laws,' said Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman. 'These multi-billion dollar corporations and their legal fictions don’t pass the sniff test.' The move sets up an unusual political contrast: Kentucky is strongly Republican, having voted for President Donald Trump with a 64% majority in 2024, while its governor, Andy Beshear, is a Democrat.

That alignment puts the state at odds with Trump's position that prediction-market oversight belongs with the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

United States, Kentucky

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