Kalshi to sue Ohio regulator for overstepping authority

Kalshi is suing the Ohio Casino Control Commission and the Attorney General’s office, claiming that the state had overstepped its authority by trying to ban the prediction platform. 

The complaint was filed with the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Columbus, with the case stating that despite back-and-forth communications with the state to try and come to an agreement.  

In Ohio, legal sports betting can only be conducted via an agency that holds a sports betting license.  

The Commission filed a cease-and-desist against Kalshi in April, and cautioned sportsbooks that engaging with Kalshi while it is unregulated could have consequences, regardless of whether business was conducted in or outside of the state. Ohio was not the only state to file such a letter against Kalshi, however, as it received similar orders from New Jersey, Illinois, Nevada and more.  

The complaint stated, “If effectuated, the Casino Commission’s threat to these brokers would cut off Kalshi’s access to millions of users and key operators, and compound the extraordinary harm Kalshi would suffer as a result of the Casino Commission’s unlawful attempts at regulation.” 

Good to know: In August, Kalshi offered implied betting odds for the Kelce-Swift engagement, with odds on when the wedding would take place 

Kalshi has asked for a federal injunction, which would allow Kalshi to operate in the state from October 20.  

Of course, this is far from the only legal action Kalshi currently finds itself embroiled in. In August the Ho-Chunk Nation filed a lawsuit against Kalshi, and in September, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell filed a lawsuit against Kalshi for its “illegal and unsafe sports betting” offering.  

Despite this, Kalshi’s latest funding round saw it valued at $2bn, while hiring industry veterans such as Sara Slane.  

Beth Turner

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