General information, not financial, investment, legal, tax or betting advice · Prediction markets carry risk of loss · 18+ or the legal age in your region
The Index100
The Index 100/Legality/the United States, and where is the line
Legality

Are prediction markets legal in the United States, and where is the line?

A plain, dated guide to prediction market legality in the United States: how the CFTC oversees event contracts federally, why sports event contracts are contested with a federal court split, and how to check your own eligibility. Information, not legal advice. As of June 2026.

Last reviewed 23 June 2026 · Status as of June 2026 · Information, not legal advice

Two layers of rules

Federal authority, state friction.

01
Federal oversight
Some event contracts trade on exchanges overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. A federal appeals posture has generally favored federal authority over these designated markets.
02
State challenges
Several states have challenged operators, especially over sports-event contracts, through cease and desist letters and litigation. This is where most of the live friction sits.
03
Onchain and offshore
Crypto-native and offshore venues operate outside the US framework. Their standing for US persons is unsettled, and we do not treat reachability as legality.
Generally available

US-regulated venues

Kalshi · rated 91/100
Available
Polymarket · rated 86/100
Available
ForecastEx · rated 80/100
Available
Crypto.com · rated 80/100
Available
Robinhood · rated 79/100
Available
Railbird · rated 74/100
Available
Novig · rated 74/100
Available
PredictIt · rated 59/100
Available
Not offered for real money

Offshore and onchain

Futuur · rated 68/100
Not available
Limitless · rated 62/100
Not available
Myriad · rated 60/100
Not available
Drift BET · rated 57/100
Not available
Zeitgeist · rated 54/100
Not available

Availability is indicative and can change, and individual states may restrict specific products such as sports-event contracts. Confirm the current position with the platform and a qualified professional before acting.

FAQ

the United States, and where is the line, in short.

Are prediction markets legal in the United States?

As of June 2026, event contracts listed on a designated contract market operate federally under Commodity Futures Trading Commission oversight, and non sports markets such as economic indicators sit on the federal side of the line. Sports event contracts are genuinely contested, with a split among federal appeals courts and active disputes between federal and some state authorities. Treat sports as contested, check your state, and confirm your own eligibility. This is general information, not legal advice.

Who regulates prediction markets in the United States?

At the federal level the Commodity Futures Trading Commission oversees event contracts listed on designated contract markets. Individual states maintain their own gambling frameworks, and several have asserted that sports event contracts are unlicensed sports wagering. The conflict between the two layers is being decided in the federal courts and through a Commodity Futures Trading Commission rulemaking proposed in 2026.

Are sports event contracts legal nationwide?

It is contested. Federally overseen exchanges have offered sports event contracts, but several states treat them as unlicensed sports wagering, and federal appeals courts have split on whether federal law preempts state gambling law. Treat sports event contracts as contested and verify the live position for your state before acting, as of June 2026.

Does the law differ by state?

Yes. The federal framework is national, but states differ sharply in how they treat sports event contracts and in whether they have taken enforcement action. Some have issued guidance or sued, some have been sued by federal authorities, and others have not acted. Check your own state page and confirm your eligibility.

Is offshore or onchain access legal in the United States?

Platforms operating without United States registration, including many onchain venues, sit on contested ground for United States users and carry added risk around custody of funds and legal recourse. We mark this as contested rather than giving a definitive answer, and we do not link to such venues.