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Are Prediction Markets Legal in Alaska?

Status as of October 3, 2026: Available, dispute pending. What the courts and the state have done, with dated sources.

Catie Di Stefano By , Founder, PredictionRanks · Updated

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Quick Verdict: Available, dispute pending

Kalshi, Polymarket US, ProphetX, OG and Novig: Available, dispute pending. No Alaska case was found, but the Ninth Circuit, whose rulings bind its federal courts, ruled on Aug 28, 2026 (preliminary stage) that Kalshi had not shown federal law overrides state gaming law for sports contracts, and Supreme Court petitions on that ruling are pending. (source (opens in a new tab))

Nationally: Federal appeals courts are split on sports event contracts, all at the preliminary-injunction stage: the Third Circuit sided with Kalshi (Apr 6, 2026), the Ninth (Aug 28, 2026) and Sixth (Sep 25, 2026) sided with the states, and three Supreme Court petitions (Nos. 26-299, 26-338, 26-344) are pending; none has been granted.

  • Status (as of October 3, 2026): Kalshi, Polymarket US, ProphetX, OG and Novig: Available, dispute pending.
  • Why: No Alaska case was found, but the Ninth Circuit, whose rulings bind its federal courts, ruled on Aug 28, 2026 (preliminary stage) that Kalshi had not shown federal law overrides state gaming law for sports contracts, and Supreme Court petitions on that ruling are pending.
  • Welcome offers that apply to Alaska residents (partner terms of Oct 1, 2026): Kalshi, Polymarket US, ProphetX, OG, Novig, Rebet.
  • Age: Kalshi, Polymarket US, OG and Rebet set 18 as the minimum (ProphetX: 18 or the local age of majority if higher); Novig sets 21. We recommend 21+.
  • Status describes whether each platform accepts Alaska residents, not whether trading is legal. We do not give legal advice.

Best offer right now

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Kalshi

Score 92/100

Trade $25 and Get $25!

Trade $25 in event contracts and get $25 in credit. Use code RANKPREDICTS at signup.

Code: RANKPREDICTS

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21+ · Terms apply · Verified Sep 2

Certain limitations apply. The offer is available to new users only, subject to the terms and conditions at kalshi.com/tc/500. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information.

Full offer details →

Alaska has no legal mobile sportsbook framework in April 2026. Multiple legislative attempts (most recently HB 145 in the 2024 session) have failed amid concerns about social impact and the absence of an existing in-state gaming infrastructure. As a result, CFTC-regulated prediction markets are functionally the only legal way for Alaska residents to wager on sports outcomes.

Like Minnesota, Alaska has no licensed sportsbook industry to protect — which means every major CFTC-regulated platform is available statewide, including DraftKings Predictions, FanDuel Predicts and Fanatics Markets (which voluntarily geofence most other major states). Alaska is one of the most platform-rich states on our list.

Why Alaska Is the Most Permissive Northern State

Three reasons:

  1. No licensed sportsbook market to protect. Same dynamic as Minnesota — without an in-state regulated framework, the AG has no consumer-protection or revenue-loss argument for enforcement.
  2. Federalist tradition. Alaska has historically deferred to federal regulators on novel financial-product questions.
  3. No tribal gaming compacts affecting prediction markets. Alaska has the largest number of federally recognized tribes (229 in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act framework (opens in a new tab)), but tribal gaming is structured very differently from the lower 48 — Alaska Native corporations operate under ANCSA rather than IGRA Class III gaming compacts. No tribe has joined any prediction-market litigation.

What Alaska Residents Can Trade Right Now

Everything.

  • Sports: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and college football and basketball, including each game and season futures.
  • Politics and elections: control of Congress, governor races and the 2028 presidential race.
  • Economics: Fed rate decisions, inflation (CPI) and jobs reports.
  • Weather, culture and crypto: temperatures, awards shows, box office and Bitcoin price ranges.

Alaska-specific market depth is strongest on national markets (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL futures) — Alaska has no major pro franchises but strong fan bases for Seattle Seahawks/Mariners/Kraken and the closest NHL team is the Vancouver Canucks. Political market depth is strong around the Alaska gubernatorial race and federal Senate races (Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan).

Best Prediction Market Platforms for AK Residents

CFTC Designated Contract Market.

DraftKings Predictions — Available in Alaska (no DK sportsbook license to protect).

FanDuel Predicts — Available in Alaska (no FD sportsbook license to protect).

Eligibility Checklist for AK Residents

  • 18+ on CFTC-regulated platforms.
  • Government ID + SSN for KYC verification.
  • US bank account or debit card.

Tax Treatment for AK Residents

What could change the status

Dates we are watching: Nevada's responses to the Robinhood and Crypto.com Supreme Court petitions are now due November 13 and 16, 2026 (both extended in October), and Kalshi's response to New Jersey's petition is due November 9, 2026 (deadlines can be extended); the earliest the Supreme Court could act on the petitions is a conference in December 2026 or January 2027 (our estimate, not a scheduled date); the Ninth Circuit has not yet decided Kalshi's request for a rehearing by the full court. We re-check this page when any of these happen and log the change above.

Sources

Status in Alaska as of October 3, 2026

PlatformStatusWhy (source)Welcome offer in Alaska
KalshiAvailable, dispute pendingKalshi accepts Alaska residents; no Alaska case was found, but the Ninth Circuit, whose rulings bind its federal courts, ruled on Aug 28, 2026 (preliminary stage) that Kalshi had not shown federal law overrides state gaming law for sports contracts, and Supreme Court petitions on that ruling are pending. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Trade $25 and Get $25!
Polymarket USAvailable, dispute pendingPolymarket US accepts Alaska residents; no Alaska case was found, but the Ninth Circuit, whose rulings bind its federal courts, ruled on Aug 28, 2026 (preliminary stage) that Kalshi had not shown federal law overrides state gaming law for sports contracts, and Supreme Court petitions on that ruling are pending. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Deposit $10 get a $25 Trading Bonus!
ProphetXAvailable, dispute pendingProphetX accepts Alaska residents; no Alaska case was found, but the Ninth Circuit, whose rulings bind its federal courts, ruled on Aug 28, 2026 (preliminary stage) that Kalshi had not shown federal law overrides state gaming law for sports contracts, and Supreme Court petitions on that ruling are pending. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Trade $50, Earn $75!
OG (by Crypto.com)Available, dispute pendingOG accepts Alaska residents; no Alaska case was found, but the Ninth Circuit, whose rulings bind its federal courts, ruled on Aug 28, 2026 (preliminary stage) that Kalshi had not shown federal law overrides state gaming law for sports contracts, and Supreme Court petitions on that ruling are pending. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Trade $25 Get $50 in Rewards! (New users only)
NovigAvailable, dispute pendingNovig accepts Alaska residents; no Alaska case was found, but the Ninth Circuit, whose rulings bind its federal courts, ruled on Aug 28, 2026 (preliminary stage) that Kalshi had not shown federal law overrides state gaming law for sports contracts, and Supreme Court petitions on that ruling are pending. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Deposit $10 Get $50 in Trade Credits!
RebetAvailable, dispute pendingRebet is a sweepstakes app, not a CFTC-regulated exchange; its sweepstakes rules include Alaska. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Get a 100% purchase match up to $100!

What changed (newest first)

Prediction markets in other states

§ References & Sources

  1. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) (opens in a new tab)— U.S. federal regulator
  2. CFTC Designated Contract Markets list (opens in a new tab)— CFTC
  3. 26 U.S. Code § 1256 — Section 1256 contracts marked to market (opens in a new tab)— Cornell Law / U.S. Code
  4. IRS Form 6781 — Gains and Losses From Section 1256 Contracts (opens in a new tab)— Internal Revenue Service
  5. National Council on Problem Gambling — 1-800-GAMBLER (opens in a new tab)— NCPG

Frequently asked questions

Are prediction markets legal in Alaska?

We don't give legal verdicts, but here is the status as of October 3, 2026: Kalshi, Polymarket US, ProphetX, OG and Novig: Available, dispute pending. No Alaska case was found, but the Ninth Circuit, whose rulings bind its federal courts, ruled on Aug 28, 2026 (preliminary stage) that Kalshi had not shown federal law overrides state gaming law for sports contracts, and Supreme Court petitions on that ruling are pending. Nationally, federal appeals courts are split on sports event contracts, all at the preliminary-injunction stage, and three Supreme Court petitions are pending; none has been granted.

Can I use Kalshi in Alaska?

Status as of October 3, 2026: Available, dispute pending. Kalshi accepts Alaska residents; no Alaska case was found, but the Ninth Circuit, whose rulings bind its federal courts, ruled on Aug 28, 2026 (preliminary stage) that Kalshi had not shown federal law overrides state gaming law for sports contracts, and Supreme Court petitions on that ruling are pending. Kalshi's welcome offer (Trade $25 and Get $25!) applies to Alaska residents. Kalshi's minimum age is 18; we recommend 21+.

Has Alaska taken action against prediction markets?

Our legal timeline has no court ruling or state enforcement action on prediction markets in Alaska (that is not proof none exists). The Ninth Circuit, which covers Alaska, ruled for Nevada on August 28, 2026 (preliminary stage), and Supreme Court petitions on that ruling are pending.

What could change the status in Alaska?

Dates we are watching: Nevada's responses to the Robinhood and Crypto.com Supreme Court petitions are now due November 13 and 16, 2026 (both extended in October), and Kalshi's response to New Jersey's petition is due November 9, 2026 (deadlines can be extended); the earliest the Supreme Court could act on the petitions is a conference in December 2026 or January 2027 (our estimate, not a scheduled date); the Ninth Circuit has not yet decided Kalshi's request for a rehearing by the full court. We re-check this page when any of these happen and log the change above.

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