A Louisiana state judge has temporarily barred a group of prediction-market operators from offering event contracts to people in the state without the required authorisation. Judge Jeffrey Johnson of the 21st Judicial District Court in Tangipahoa Parish signed the ex parte temporary restraining order at 3:48 p.m. on 12 November, after Attorney General Liz Murrill filed suit.
Platforms named in the action
The case includes Kalshi, Polymarket-related entities, Robinhood, ForecastEx, Crypto.com-related companies, Coinbase, Novig, Underdog, IG Group, Gemini and ProphetX. Louisiana alleges that the contracts amount to unlicensed gambling under state law. The companies generally argue that their products are federally regulated financial contracts rather than gambling.
The order is temporary, not a final finding on the merits. It expires after 10 days unless extended, and a hearing on the state's request for a preliminary injunction is scheduled for 30 November. The case adds another front to the US dispute over whether sports and other event contracts fall under federal commodities rules or state gambling regimes.