Is Kalshi legal in Massachusetts? The Supreme Judicial Court case, explained
Massachusetts moved first among the states now fighting Kalshi in court, and its case has gone the furthest: it is the only one to reach a state supreme court. Seven months after a Suffolk County judge shut down Kalshi's sports contracts statewide, the Supreme Judicial Court has heard the appeal, signaled real skepticism toward Kalshi's position — and still hasn't ruled.
How Massachusetts got here
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | Attorney General Andrea Campbell sues Kalshi. |
| Jan 23, 2026 | Suffolk County Superior Court grants a preliminary injunction, barring Kalshi from accepting sports event contracts from Massachusetts residents. |
| Early 2026 | Kalshi appeals. The Supreme Judicial Court grants direct appellate review — the first time a state high court has taken up the question. |
| Apr 2026 | Oral argument. 37 states and tribal gaming organizations file amicus briefs backing Massachusetts. |
| Aug 6, 2026 | Still pending. No ruling has been issued. |
What the injunction actually blocks
The January 23 order bars Kalshi from offering or facilitating sports-wagering-style event contracts to anyone physically located in Massachusetts — the same narrower, sports-specific carve-out seen in Nevada and Michigan, not a blanket state ban.
Why the Supreme Judicial Court matters beyond Massachusetts
Massachusetts is the first state fight to reach a state supreme court, which is why 37 attorneys general weighed in as amici. At oral argument, the court appeared inclined to let states regulate sports-style event contracts, despite Kalshi's argument that the Commodity Exchange Act gives the CFTC exclusive jurisdiction.
Massachusetts in the national picture
| Jurisdiction | Status as of Aug 6, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | Preliminary injunction; SJC appeal pending, no ruling |
| Nevada | Preliminary injunction (May 18, 2026); Aug 12 geofence deadline |
| Michigan | TRO since Jun 29, 2026; Aug 12 geofence deadline, $500K fine |
| New York | Judge Torres ruled state gambling law is not preempted |
| Ohio | Federal court denied Kalshi's injunction motion |
| New Mexico | Tribal and state suits pending; no injunction |
| Third Circuit (federal) | Ruled 2-1 for Kalshi on preemption — the only appellate win so far |
We track the two states with hard compliance deadlines separately: Is Kalshi legal in Nevada? and Is Kalshi legal in Michigan?.
What this means if you're in Massachusetts right now
Kalshi's sports event contracts should not be accessible under the current injunction. Non-sports categories generally fall outside the AG's suit. Nothing here is legal advice.
FAQ
- Is Kalshi legal in Massachusetts right now?
- Not for sports event contracts, per the January 23, 2026 injunction, still in force pending SJC appeal.
- Has the SJC ruled yet?
- No. Oral argument was April 2026; still no decision as of August 2026.
- Why did dozens of states file briefs?
- Because it's the first state supreme court to address this question.
- Is Kalshi banned entirely?
- No — sports event contracts only, the same approach as Nevada and Michigan.
Sources
Next: Is Kalshi legal in Nevada? The August 12 geofence, explained