Are prediction markets legal in Arizona?
2026-10-17
Arizona has fought prediction markets harder than most: its Department of Gaming sent cease-and-desist letters in 2025, and its Attorney General criminally charged Kalshi in 2026. A federal court has blocked that prosecution for now, and Novig doesn't operate in Arizona.
| Platform | Status in Arizona (October 17, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Kalshi | Available |
| Polymarket US | Available |
| Novig | Not available |
| PredictIt | Available |
| Robinhood | Available — state action contested |
| DraftKings Predictions | No sports contracts |
| FanDuel Predicts | No sports contracts |
Prediction markets are legally contested in Arizona. As of October 17, 2026, Kalshi is still available, but Arizona’s Attorney General has criminally charged it, and only a federal court order is holding that prosecution back. Novig doesn’t operate in Arizona. We found no Arizona action against Polymarket US or PredictIt.
Arizona’s position
Arizona licenses sports betting, online and in person, through its Department of Gaming, and players must be 21. In a September 15, 2025 notice to licensed operators, the Department said: “Offering or selling event contracts to persons located within Arizona without a license from the Department violates Arizona law.” It added that it had sent cease-and-desist letters to Kalshi, Crypto.com and Robinhood, and warned licensees that partnering with these companies could affect their licences.
Kalshi in Arizona
- March 2026: Arizona’s Attorney General filed a 20-count criminal information alleging that Kalshi accepted bets from Arizona residents, including “four counts of election wagering.”
- April 2026: the CFTC sued Arizona and won a temporary restraining order on April 10, 2026 “barring Arizona from pursuing criminal charges against CFTC-regulated designated contract markets.” A preliminary injunction followed in May 2026, reported by Courthouse News.
- Now: after the Ninth Circuit ruled against Kalshi in the Nevada case on August 28, 2026, Arizona asked the Ninth Circuit to lift the injunction for sports contracts. As of mid-October that request was pending, so the prosecution remains on hold.
See is Kalshi legal? for the wider court picture.
Other platforms
- Novig: not available. Novig lists Arizona among its three excluded states. The Department of Gaming named Novig in a 2025 cease-and-desist, calling such operations “alleged to be felony criminal enterprises.”
- Robinhood: received a cease-and-desist in 2025 (per the Department’s September 2025 notice) and still offers event contracts in Arizona.
- Polymarket US and PredictIt: we found no Arizona action.
- DraftKings and FanDuel don’t offer sports contracts in Arizona, where they run licensed sportsbooks.
For every state side by side, see our legality tracker.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kalshi legal in Arizona?
It's available but under attack. Arizona's Attorney General filed 20 criminal counts against Kalshi in March 2026, including four for election wagering. A federal court blocked the prosecution after the CFTC sued Arizona, and Arizona is now asking the Ninth Circuit to lift that block following the court's August 2026 ruling against Kalshi in Nevada.
Is sports betting legal in Arizona?
Yes, online and in person, licensed by the Arizona Department of Gaming. You must be 21: the state's tribal compact says no one under 21 may place a wager.
Can I use Novig in Arizona?
No. Novig excludes Arizona, along with Nevada and Michigan. Arizona's Department of Gaming sent Novig a cease-and-desist in 2025 over its earlier peer-to-peer model (reported).
Sources
- Arizona Department of Gaming — notice to operators on prediction markets (September 15, 2025; copy hosted by InGame)
- Arizona Department of Gaming — event wagering rules (21+ advertising rule)
- Arizona Department of Gaming — cease-and-desist press release (2025)
- Arizona Attorney General — Kalshi charged with illegal gambling operation and election wagering (March 2026)
- CFTC — Press release 9211-26: temporary restraining order against Arizona (April 10, 2026)
- CFTC — Press release 9206-26: CFTC sues Arizona, Connecticut and Illinois (April 2, 2026)
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit — KalshiEX v. Assad (August 28, 2026)
- Novig Help Center — Eligibility & legality
Last checked:
Not legal or betting advice. 18+ (21+ where required). Prediction markets involve risk of loss — only trade what you can afford to lose. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (National Problem Gambling Helpline, 24/7).