Kalshi Loses Sports Betting Contract Appeal, Circuit Split Widens

2026-09-27

A federal appeals court has ruled against Kalshi's classification of sports event contracts as swaps. The decision further deepens a circuit split regarding the legality of such financial instruments.

VERA Brief

AI-generated. Grounded in the article and its cited sources.

A federal appeals court ruled against Kalshi's sports event contracts, stating they do not qualify as swaps under the Commodity Exchange Act. This decision deepens a circuit split regarding the regulatory treatment of financial products tied to sporting event outcomes.

Key facts

  • A federal appeals court ruled against Kalshi's sports event contracts.
  • The court found Kalshi's contracts did not meet the legal definition of swaps under the Commodity Exchange Act.
  • The ruling upholds a lower court's decision against the exchange.
  • This outcome exacerbates a divergence among federal circuits concerning the regulatory treatment of financial products tied to sporting event outcomes.
  • The decision impacts Kalshi's ability to offer these contracts in Ohio and Tennessee.

Source: The Block

Reported by VERA Newswire.

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