Massachusetts won a significant court battle against prediction market platform Kalshi that gives the Bay State the ability to prohibit sports event contracts from being offered there.
Key Takeaways
- Kalshi’s motion to dismiss the Bay State’s request for a preliminary injunction was denied.
- The judge gives the Commonwealth until Wednesday to propose the preliminary injunction.
- The court order will take effect on Friday.
A judge ruled in favor of the Commonwealth on Tuesday, allowing a request for a preliminary injunction against Kalshi, which also had its motion to dismiss the request denied.
“The Commonwealth is entitled to a preliminary injunction prohibiting Kalshi from offering sport-related event contracts in the absence of the required license under the Sports Wagering Law,” Judge Christopher Barry-Smith wrote.
MEMORANDUM & ORDER:
— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) January 20, 2026
For the forgoing reasons, the Commonwealth's motion for a preliminary injunction is ALLOWED. Kalshi's motion to dismiss is DENIED. The Commonwealth is entitled to a preliminary injunction prohibiting Kalshi from offering sport-related event contracts in the…
Massachusetts was ordered to propose a preliminary injunction by Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET because Judge Barry-Smith said the two sides didn’t resolve details of the injunction, including “how to prohibit new contracts without impacting already existing contracts.” The injunction would then be put in place at a hearing on Friday, making Massachusetts the first state to receive that type of court order against a prediction market platform.
This is a breaking news story that will be updated.
