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Are Prediction Markets Legal in Connecticut?

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. Connecticut sued Kalshi on Aug 26, 2026 after a federal judge denied Kalshi an injunction on Aug 10, 2026; no court order blocks the platforms. (source (opens in a new tab)) On Sep 10, 2026 the state announced cease-and-desist orders over sports event contracts to nine other companies, including Polymarket, Crypto.com (OG's operator), ProphetX and Novig. (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: Connecticut sued Kalshi on Aug 26, 2026 after a federal judge denied Kalshi an injunction on Aug 10, 2026; no court order blocks the platforms. On Sep 10, 2026 the state announced cease-and-desist orders over sports event contracts to nine other companies, including Polymarket, Crypto.com (OG's operator), ProphetX and Novig.
  • Welcome offers that apply to Connecticut residents (partner terms of Oct 1, 2026): Kalshi, Polymarket US, ProphetX, OG, Novig. Not valid here: 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 Connecticut residents, not whether trading is legal. We do not give legal advice.

Best offer right now

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Kalshi

Score 92/100

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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.

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Status in Connecticut as of October 3, 2026

PlatformStatusWhy (source)Welcome offer in Connecticut
KalshiAvailable, dispute pendingKalshi accepts Connecticut residents; Connecticut sued Kalshi on Aug 26, 2026 after a federal judge denied Kalshi an injunction on Aug 10, 2026; no court order blocks the platforms. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Trade $25 and Get $25!
Polymarket USAvailable, dispute pendingPolymarket US accepts Connecticut residents; Connecticut sued Kalshi on Aug 26, 2026 after a federal judge denied Kalshi an injunction on Aug 10, 2026; no court order blocks the platforms. (source (opens in a new tab)) Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection sent Polymarket a cease-and-desist order over sports event contracts, announced Sep 10, 2026. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Deposit $10 get a $25 Trading Bonus!
ProphetXAvailable, dispute pendingProphetX accepts Connecticut residents; Connecticut sued Kalshi on Aug 26, 2026 after a federal judge denied Kalshi an injunction on Aug 10, 2026; no court order blocks the platforms. (source (opens in a new tab)) Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection sent ProphetX a cease-and-desist order over sports event contracts, announced Sep 10, 2026. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Trade $50, Earn $75!
OG (by Crypto.com)Available, dispute pendingOG accepts Connecticut residents; Connecticut sued Kalshi on Aug 26, 2026 after a federal judge denied Kalshi an injunction on Aug 10, 2026; no court order blocks the platforms. (source (opens in a new tab)) Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection sent Crypto.com, OG's operator, a cease-and-desist order over sports event contracts, announced Sep 10, 2026. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Trade $25 Get $50 in Rewards! (New users only)
NovigAvailable, dispute pendingNovig accepts Connecticut residents; Connecticut sued Kalshi on Aug 26, 2026 after a federal judge denied Kalshi an injunction on Aug 10, 2026; no court order blocks the platforms. (source (opens in a new tab)) Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection sent Novig a cease-and-desist order over sports event contracts, announced Sep 10, 2026. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Deposit $10 Get $50 in Trade Credits!
RebetNot offeredRebet is a sweepstakes app, not a CFTC-regulated exchange; its sweepstakes rules exclude Connecticut. (source)Not valid here

What changed (newest first)

Why Connecticut Is Pushing Back

Three structural reasons make Connecticut one of the most aggressive states in challenging prediction markets:

  1. Tribal-exclusivity sports betting compacts. Connecticut's online sports betting market is structured around tribal exclusivity. The Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes paid for that exclusivity and view Kalshi as an unlicensed competitor undercutting their compact. Tribal political influence in Hartford is significant.
  2. A consumer-protection-led DCP Gaming Division. Unlike states where the AG drives enforcement, Connecticut has a dedicated Gaming Division within the Department of Consumer Protection that has historically taken aggressive consumer-safety positions. The Gaming Division's cease-and-desist authority is well-established under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-578 (opens in a new tab).
  3. Senators Murphy and Blumenthal. Both Connecticut senators have publicly called for federal legislation to "rein in" prediction markets — a rare instance of the state's federal delegation aligning with state regulators rather than the CFTC.

What Connecticut Residents Can Trade Right Now

Despite the cease-and-desist letters, no Connecticut court order is currently blocking Kalshi or other CFTC-regulated platforms.

  • Status is unstable while the CFTC v. Connecticut case proceeds.
  • Politics — 2026 midterm contracts, gubernatorial races, congressional approval, regulatory milestones.
  • Macro — Fed rate decisions, CPI, GDP, recession probability, Treasury yield bands.
  • Crypto — Bitcoin and Ethereum price brackets, ETF flow contracts, regulatory milestones.
  • Climate — Temperature records, hurricane and severe weather contracts.

The asymmetry: state-licensed Connecticut sportsbooks (DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics) charge per-bet vig and are restricted to the tribal-compact framework. CFTC-regulated prediction markets charge 0–2% in fees and offer markets the licensed sportsbooks cannot — politics, macro, crypto, climate.

Best Prediction Market Platforms for Connecticut Residents

Kalshi — Available in Connecticut. Subject to active state cease-and-desist letters, but operating under CFTC jurisdiction with the federal government suing the state to protect that operation. $10 minimum deposit. Most comprehensive non-sports market catalog.

Markets routed through Kalshi, so the same legal posture applies. Zero commission. Best for existing Robinhood brokerage users.

DraftKings already operates a state-licensed sportsbook in CT through the Mashantucket Pequot compact, which makes the prediction-market product a complementary offering for non-sports categories.

FanDuel runs the state-licensed sportsbook through the Mohegan Tribe compact. Sports contracts on FanDuel Predicts effectively duplicate the licensed sportsbook for CT residents — a regulatory gray area.

Fanatics Sportsbook holds a CT lottery-affiliated license.

Polymarket US — Available in Connecticut following the QCX acquisition. Strong crypto and political contract coverage. Flat 0.10% taker fee.

OG.com — Available in Connecticut. Same legal exposure as Kalshi.

Sleeper Picks — Not currently offered to Connecticut residents.

Novig — Peer-to-peer sports exchange, available in Connecticut: deposit $10, get $50 in trade credits with code RANKPREDICTS. Not available in Connecticut.

Chalkboard — Sports-only props. Not available in Connecticut.

Rebet — Social-feed prediction markets. Not licensed in Connecticut.

Eligibility Checklist for Connecticut Residents

  • 18 years or older (Connecticut state-licensed sports betting requires 21+ — another point of state contention).
  • Government ID and SSN for KYC.
  • US bank account or debit card.
  • Not on the Connecticut DCP voluntary self-exclusion list (prediction-market platforms are not currently required to honor it; another DCP grievance).
  • Aware that the legal status may change quickly — bookmark this page or check before each new deposit.

Deposit, Withdrawal & Tax Notes for Connecticut

  • Deposits: ACH or debit card. $10 minimum on Kalshi.
  • Withdrawals: 1–3 business days via ACH. No CT-specific withdrawal geolocation requirements (yet — this could change if DCP wins authority).
  • Taxes: Connecticut state income tax tops out at 6.99% and applies to taxable prediction-market gains. Federal treatment is unsettled: the IRS↗ (opens in a new tab) hasn't issued guidance on event contracts, and tax professionals argue for gambling income, capital gains or Section 1256 (60/40) treatment. The Connecticut Department of Revenue Services has not published prediction-market-specific guidance.

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 Second Circuit appeal from the July 7, 2026 New York ruling is still pending. We re-check this page when any of these happen and log the change above.

Sources

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 Connecticut?

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. Connecticut sued Kalshi on Aug 26, 2026 after a federal judge denied Kalshi an injunction on Aug 10, 2026; no court order blocks the platforms. On Sep 10, 2026 the state announced cease-and-desist orders over sports event contracts to nine other companies, including Polymarket, Crypto.com (OG's operator), ProphetX and Novig. 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 Connecticut?

Status as of October 3, 2026: Available, dispute pending. Kalshi accepts Connecticut residents; Connecticut sued Kalshi on Aug 26, 2026 after a federal judge denied Kalshi an injunction on Aug 10, 2026; no court order blocks the platforms. Kalshi's welcome offer (Trade $25 and Get $25!) applies to Connecticut residents. Kalshi's minimum age is 18; we recommend 21+.

What has Connecticut done about prediction markets?

Connecticut sued Kalshi on Aug 26, 2026 after a federal judge denied Kalshi an injunction on Aug 10, 2026; no court order blocks the platforms. Most recent entries in our timeline: Sep 10, 2026: Connecticut issues nine cease-and-desist orders over sports event contracts; Aug 26, 2026: Connecticut sues Kalshi over sports event contracts; Aug 10, 2026: Federal court denies Kalshi injunction in Connecticut; Dec 2, 2025: Connecticut orders three platforms to stop sports event contracts. Each entry above links to its source.

What could change the status in Connecticut?

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 Second Circuit appeal from the July 7, 2026 New York ruling is still pending. We re-check this page when any of these happen and log the change above.

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