A federal judge in Missouri ruled on 13 February that Torch Electronics’ machines are illegal gambling devices when used outside licensed casinos. The court rejected the company’s argument that its pre-reveal feature removed chance and issued TNT Amusements a partial declaratory judgment.
The ruling challenges the legality of unlicensed gambling machines operated in Missouri retail venues.
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A federal judge in Illinois partially maintained preliminary injunctions protecting Kalshi from state gambling enforcement on 2 October. The court found that federal law likely preempts state licensing requirements because Kalshi’s contracts likely qualify as swaps. The ruling remains preliminary, and the judge allowed further briefing on wager-related fees.
A federal judge in Illinois ruled on 2 October that the state likely cannot enforce several of its gambling laws against Kalshi while a case on prediction markets continues, keeping preliminary injunctions in place in part. US District Judge Martha M. Pacold found that Kalshi's event contracts are likely swaps under the Commodity Exchange Act, according to the opinion. The decision is not final.
It was reported that an Illinois federal judge found Kalshi's sports event contracts likely qualify as swaps late the previous week. The outlet also reported that Ohio regulators had launched a separate enforcement push against prediction markets.
A federal judge in Illinois has found that sports event contracts offered by Kalshi are likely swaps under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), and that several Illinois laws regulating those contracts are likely preempted by federal law. U.S. District Judge Martha Pacold granted the plaintiffs' preliminary injunction requests in part, according to the ruling. The plaintiffs were Kalshi, Coinbase and the CFTC, acting against state regulators.
A federal judge rejected the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ request for a preliminary injunction to revive approval for gaming at its proposed Vallejo, California, casino site. Judge Trevor McFadden said the tribe had not shown it was likely to succeed on any of its four claims against the Department of the Interior. The ruling leaves the casino closed while the tribe’s lawsuit continues.
A US federal judge in Iowa denied Kalshi’s request for a preliminary injunction against state regulation of its sports-related event contracts. Judge Stephen Locher found Kalshi was unlikely to succeed in arguing that the Commodity Exchange Act expressly pre-empts Iowa gambling laws. Iowa had not taken enforcement action against the company when it filed suit in March.
A US federal judge upheld the decision allowing the Coquille Indian Tribe to operate a casino in Medford, Oregon, rejecting a challenge by three other tribes. The ruling affirmed the Interior Department’s January 2025 decision to place about 2.4 acres in trust and authorise gaming there; the casino has operated since January 2025. The decision can be appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.