Native Americans Spoke Out Against Kalshi and Other Prediction Markets

• In December, Connecticut authorities banned sports betting on Kalshi, Crypto.com, and Robinhood.
• Kalshi filed a countersuit, demanding that the restrictions be lifted.
• Two Native American tribes backed the regulator.
• They believe prediction markets violate the law.

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In Connecticut, members of several Native American tribes supported the local regulator’s ban on prediction markets, including Kalshi, according to the Law360 aggregator. They said such platforms cannot operate on their lands. 

As a reminder, in early December 2025, Connecticut authorities ordered Kalshi, Crypto.com, and Robinhood to stop offering bets on sporting events. In response, Kalshi sued the Department of Consumer Protection. 

This is not an isolated case. Kalshi has faced legal trouble not only in Connecticut, but also in Tennessee, Massachusetts, New York, and a number of other states.  

The company claims it has the right to offer contracts on sporting events because its activity does not qualify as gambling. Kalshi itself holds a license from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which it says has jurisdiction over its operations. 

In Connecticut, a coalition of Native American tribes spoke out against the platform’s activity. In their amici curiae brief, representatives of the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot cite the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). 

Under it, at least on reservation lands, the activity of these platforms is illegal. Exclusive rights to define and regulate gambling in these territories belong to Native Americans themselves, not local authorities. 

At the same time, according to the tribes’ statement, Kalshi is a direct competitor to casinos located on reservations. As a result, the platform’s activity is not only illegal, but also harms Native Americans and their businesses. 

Moreover, this is not the only precedent. In California, Kalshi also filed a lawsuit against the local gambling regulator. In the summer of 2025, another filing from tribal groups was submitted, using similar language.