After Kalshi moved to dismiss it, an injunction was granted in opposition to the prediction market in favor of Massachusetts.
Decide Barry-Smith has granted an injunction in opposition to Kalshi in Massachusetts, stopping the prediction market operator from providing sport-related occasion contracts resulting from not having the right license. The injunction can be filed by the Commonwealth no later than 4pm on January 21, with Kalshi having the chance to submit a response earlier than 10am on January 23.
“On the listening to each events mentioned, however didn’t resolve, sure particulars of the Commonwealth’s requested injunction, together with how you can prohibit new contracts with out impacting already current contracts,” mentioned the Decide, as reported by betting analyst Invoice Speros.
Decide Barry-Smith
"The Commonwealth's movement for a preliminary injunction is ALLOWED. Kalshi's movement to dismiss is DENIED.
The Commonwealth is entitled to a preliminary injunction prohibiting Kalshi from providing sport-related occasion contracts within the absence of the required…
— Invoice Speros (@billsperos) January 20, 2026
This case dates again to the Massachusetts Lawyer Normal Andrea Pleasure Campbell first filing against Kalshi in September, arguing that the platform’s occasion contracts carefully resemble sports activities wagers and are promoted as such on TV and on-line to Massachusetts residents. Such actions, in Campbell’s view and now the court docket’s, require an official playing license.
“The Court docket has made clear that any firm that wishes to be within the sports activities gaming enterprise in Massachusetts should play by our guidelines – no exceptions,” mentioned AG Campbell in a statement on January 20. “As we speak’s victory marks a significant step towards fortifying Massachusetts’ playing legal guidelines and mitigating the numerous public well being penalties that include unregulated playing.”
The Massachusetts Gaming Fee has additionally praised Decide Barry-Smith’s choice, with MGC Chair Jordan Maynard saying: “The Fee appreciates the efforts of Lawyer Normal Campbell and the Workplace of the Lawyer Normal to implement Massachusetts gaming legal guidelines and is grateful for the current ruling – we’re hopeful this concern could be settled quickly. The MGC reminds Massachusetts residents that the most secure place to wager, in the event that they select to take action, is with a authorized regulated operator.”
Assertion from MGC Chair Jordan Maynard concerning right now's prediction market information: pic.twitter.com/Tt6LvHUhhb
— MA Gaming Fee (@MassGamingComm) January 20, 2026
Extra proof piles in opposition to Kalshi throughout the nation
With Kalshi dealing with comparable authorized battles in numerous states, the Massachusetts case has already been filed as supplemental proof for a case in New York, in response to gaming lawyer David Wallach.
Search for the Massachusetts court docket choice to filed as supplemental authority by States and Tribes in different prediction market court docket circumstances. New York attracts first blood. https://t.co/vCBzIEkg06
— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) January 20, 2026
The injunction is setting a precedent in playing regulators’ favor, doubtlessly making it extra doubtless for different judges to place comparable injunctions or obstacles in place.
Featured picture: Kalshi / Canva
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