Is Kalshi legal in Washington state? What the 2026 court order blocked
Washington is the toughest state for prediction markets. A King County judge ordered Kalshi to block sports, election and other event contracts by September 2026, under threat of $120,000-a-day fines. What happened, what is left, and Polymarket and Underdog.
In this article
Mostly no. Since September 2026 Kalshi has blocked sports, election and other event contracts for users in Washington state, after a King County Superior Court judge found that it likely violates the state's gambling law and ordered it to restrict access. Washington is now one of the few states where Kalshi's main markets are off limits.
As of 21 October 2026. Kalshi is appealing; the app's location check shows what, if anything, is available to you.
Kalshi in Washington at a glance
| Status in Washington | |
|---|---|
| Kalshi | Sports, election and other event contracts blocked under a court order |
| Other prediction markets | The same law applies; Underdog sued the state in September 2026 |
| Sports betting | Only in person at tribal casinos |
| State position | "Offering events-based contracts or participating in these markets is not authorized in Washington State" (Gambling Commission, December 2025) |
How Washington shut Kalshi down
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| December 2025 | The Washington State Gambling Commission issues a notice that event-based contracts are not authorized in the state |
| March 2026 | Attorney General Nick Brown sues Kalshi |
| 20 July 2026 | King County Superior Court Judge John McHale finds Kalshi likely violates state gambling law and that federal commodities law does not protect its sports contracts |
| 13 August 2026 | The judge orders Kalshi to restrict access by 2 September, using IP, residency and location checks, finding it "willfully ignored" the 2025 notice; the state can seek fines of $120,000 a day if the controls are not in place |
| September 2026 | Kalshi begins blocking sports, election and other event contracts in Washington after losing bids to pause the order |
Kalshi says the CFTC has exclusive jurisdiction over its markets, disagrees with the ruling and is pursuing its legal options (how Kalshi argues it is legal).
Why Washington is different
Washington has some of the strictest gambling laws in the country: sports betting is legal only in person at tribal casinos, and online gambling is treated harshly. Its Gambling Commission went further than most regulators by saying that even participating in event-contract markets is not authorized, not just offering them.
What about Polymarket and other apps?
- Polymarket US and other CFTC-regulated apps face the same state law. Some trackers still list Polymarket US in Washington; check the app, and expect availability to follow the courts.
- Underdog sued Washington, among five states, in September 2026 to stop enforcement against its prediction markets (Underdog Predictions).
- Polymarket's global site is not open to US users anywhere, Washington included.
What Washingtonians can still do
- Follow the odds. Watching prices is not trading; you can follow live election and sports odds on comparison sites (2026 election odds; live election odds).
- Use forecasting platforms that are not real-money markets (Manifold Markets; Metaculus).
- Do not use a VPN to get around the block: it breaks the platforms' terms and the court order is aimed at exactly that.
Is Kalshi legal in Washington state? Frequently asked questions
Is Kalshi legal in Washington state?
Not for most markets. Since September 2026 Kalshi has blocked sports, election and other event contracts in Washington under a court order.
Why did Washington ban Kalshi?
The state says event contracts are illegal gambling under Washington law; a King County judge agreed in July 2026 and ordered restrictions in August.
Is Polymarket legal in Washington?
The global site is not open to US users. Polymarket US faces the same state law; check the app.
Can Kalshi still win in Washington?
Kalshi is appealing, and federal courts are split on whether states can regulate sports event contracts. A Supreme Court ruling could change the picture nationwide.
Is sports betting legal in Washington?
Only in person at tribal casinos.
