Are prediction markets legal in Wisconsin?
2026-10-17
Wisconsin's Attorney General sued Kalshi, Robinhood, Coinbase, Polymarket and Crypto.com in April 2026 over sports event contracts, and the Ho-Chunk Nation is suing Kalshi. Novig is suing the state. All the platforms remain available while the cases continue.
| Platform | Status in Wisconsin (October 17, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Kalshi | Available — state action contested |
| Polymarket US | Available — state action contested |
| Novig | Available — state action contested |
| PredictIt | Available |
| Robinhood | Available — state action contested |
| DraftKings Predictions | No sports contracts |
| FanDuel Predicts | No sports contracts |
Prediction markets are available in Wisconsin but under legal attack. On April 23, 2026, Wisconsin’s Attorney General sued five platforms over their sports event contracts: Kalshi, Robinhood, Coinbase, Polymarket and Crypto.com. As of October 17, 2026 the cases were ongoing and the platforms remained available. Novig is suing the state, and the Ho-Chunk Nation is suing Kalshi.
Wisconsin’s position
Wisconsin’s Department of Justice says that “except in limited circumstances, sports betting and other forms of commercial gambling have long been illegal in Wisconsin.” Its April 2026 lawsuits, filed as three complaints (Kalshi, Robinhood and Coinbase together; Polymarket; and Crypto.com), ask the court to declare that offering “sports-related event contracts… to customers located in Wisconsin” violates state gambling law and is a public nuisance, and to block them. Attorney General Josh Kaul: “Thinly disguising unlawful conduct doesn’t make it lawful.” The suits cover sports contracts only, not politics or economics. The CFTC sued Wisconsin days later, on April 28, 2026.
Other cases
- Ho-Chunk Nation v. Kalshi: a tribal lawsuit in federal court since August 2025. Kalshi has sought to appeal a ruling to the Seventh Circuit (No. 26-8020).
- Novig v. Wisconsin: Novig sued the Attorney General in federal court on August 14, 2026. No ruling found.
Other platforms
We found no Wisconsin action against PredictIt. DraftKings Predictions doesn’t offer sports contracts in Wisconsin, per its availability map. See is Kalshi legal?, is Polymarket legal? and our legality tracker.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kalshi legal in Wisconsin?
It's contested. Wisconsin's Attorney General sued Kalshi, Robinhood and Coinbase on April 23, 2026, asking a court to declare their sports event contracts illegal gambling and a public nuisance. Separately, the Ho-Chunk Nation has sued Kalshi in federal court. Kalshi remains available while the cases continue.
Is Polymarket legal in Wisconsin?
Polymarket US is available but being sued. Wisconsin's Department of Justice filed a separate lawsuit against Polymarket on April 23, 2026, covering its sports contracts only.
Is sports betting legal in Wisconsin?
Only in limited circumstances. Wisconsin's Department of Justice says that 'except in limited circumstances, sports betting and other forms of commercial gambling have long been illegal in Wisconsin.' There is no statewide online sports betting.
Sources
- Wisconsin Department of Justice — lawsuits over sports event contracts (April 23, 2026)
- CourtListener — Ludlow Exchange (Novig) v. Kaul, W.D. Wis. 3:26-cv-00761
- CourtListener — Ho-Chunk Nation v. Kalshi, W.D. Wis. 3:25-cv-00698
- CourtListener — Kalshi v. Ho-Chunk Nation, Seventh Circuit 26-8020
- CFTC — Press release 9220-26: CFTC sues Wisconsin (April 28, 2026)
- DK Network — DraftKings Predictions available states (July 22, 2026)
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).