Federal-state tensions rise as CFTC targets another state in betting probe

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has intensified its legal battle over prediction markets, filing a new federal lawsuit against Wisconsin, making it the fifth U.S. state targeted in its escalating crackdown on state-level enforcement actions.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday alongside the U.S. Department of Justice in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, argues that Wisconsin overstepped its authority by suing five prediction market platforms last week, including Kalshi, Polymarket, Crypto.com, Robinhood, and Coinbase. The federal regulator says those actions interfere with its exclusive jurisdiction over federally regulated derivatives markets under the Commodity Exchange Act.

What is a prediction market, and why is this a big deal?

In its complaint, the CFTC said Wisconsin’s attempt to “criminalize and shut down federally regulated markets” undermines the national framework Congress established for overseeing swaps and event contracts.

The agency maintains that prediction markets fall under federal derivatives law rather than state gambling statutes, creating a direct conflict between Washington and state regulators.

Prediction markets allow users to bet on the outcomes of real events, such as who will win a sports game or an election, or whether a company’s stock will rise. You buy and sell contracts with other users, and the price of each contract rises or falls depending on how likely people think an outcome is. Millions of people used companies like Kalshi and Polymarket in the U.S. during the 2024 and 2026 election cycles.

What did Wisconsin do, and why did it act?

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul filed three separate civil lawsuits against Kalshi, Polymarket, Crypto.com, Robinhood, Coinbase, and their affiliates. The state wants these gambling companies banned because it accuses them of running illegal sports betting.

According to Kaul, only tribal casinos can offer sports betting to Wisconsin residents, so any other platform would be breaking state law. Native American tribes have formal agreements with state governments across the U.S. that allow only them to offer certain types of gambling within the state.

Wisconsin’s Oneida Nation Chairman Tehassi Hill said, “There’s a very large disparity between what tribes face and have to do to have regulated gambling in the state of Wisconsin, as opposed to what these prediction markets are putting forth.”

Governor Tony Evers signed a bill that allows platforms to offer online sports betting only if their servers sit on tribal land in Wisconsin. However, prediction market companies don’t meet that condition.

What does the CFTC say, and why is it suing states instead of defending companies in court?

According to the CFTC, Congress gave the agency (not the states) exclusive authority to regulate such contracts, so they say event contracts fall within that category.

The CFTC argues that event contracts and bets differ because bets involve two parties agreeing to a wager, whereas event contracts are traded on a regulated marketplace.

Similarly, state laws cannot override authority given by Congress, so there’s little Wisconsin can do about it, even if the state law covered event contracts.

CFTC Chairman Michael Selig even said, “States cannot circumvent the clear directive of Congress.” he added, “Our message to Wisconsin is the same as to New York, Arizona, and others: if you interfere with the operation of federal law in regulating financial markets, we will sue you.”

Coinbase’s head of legal, Ryan VanGrack, chipped in, saying, “By moving to block state encroachment, the Commission has sent an unmistakable signal: the era of jurisdictional ambiguity is over.” He added, “Federal law is not a suggestion — it is the exclusive authority governing these markets.”

How did Wisconsin respond?

Wisconsin Attorney General Kaul responded to the CFTC’s lawsuit, saying, “Unlawful conduct doesn’t suddenly become permissible just because you call it something different.”

Kaul said he has the support of attorneys general from multiple states and from both political parties, ready to fight the CFTC’s position.

The CFTC sued New York Attorney General Letitia James just days earlier over the same lawsuit. 

She responded, saying, “Once again, this administration is prioritizing big corporations over consumers and New Yorkers’ best interests. New York’s gambling laws are designed to protect consumers, whether they are placing bets in a prediction market or a casino.”

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