Is Kalshi legal in Texas?
Short answer: yes. Kalshi is a CFTC-regulated US exchange; its status in Texas is Available (as of 3 October 2026). Kalshi's minimum age is 18; we recommend 21+.
Kalshi · Trade $25 and Get $25!
TXPREDICTSClaim (opens in a new tab)21+ · T&Cs apply
Certain limitations apply. The offer is available to new users only, subject to the terms and conditions at kalshi.com/tc/500. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information.
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Kalshi · Trade $25 and Get $25!
TXPREDICTS
Claim on Kalshi (opens in a new tab)
Certain limitations apply. The offer is available to new users only, subject to the terms and conditions at kalshi.com/tc/500. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information.
Last checked October 21, 2026
Quick answer
Status: Available (as of 3 October 2026). Kalshi accepts Texas residents, and no Texas enforcement action was found; a Senate committee held a hearing on 15 September 2026 and the Legislature next meets in January 2027 (Covers). What could change that: a new Texas law, a state lawsuit, or a Supreme Court ruling on sports contracts.
For every app Texans can use, see our guide to Texas prediction markets.
| At a glance | Texas, 3 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Status | Available |
| Regulator | CFTC (federal), designated contract market since 3 November 2020 |
| Texas enforcement against Kalshi | None found |
| Federal appeals court covering Texas | Fifth Circuit: none of the three appeals rulings on sports contracts came from it |
| Next Texas date | Legislature convenes 12 January 2027 |
| Supreme Court | Three petitions pending (26-299, 26-338, 26-344); none granted |
| Kalshi's minimum age | 18 (we recommend 21+) |
| State income tax | Texas has none |
| Welcome offer | Trade $25 and Get $25! with code TXPREDICTS |
"Available" is one of the four status words we use on every state page. It means the operator accepts residents and we found no Texas-specific enforcement or lawsuit over prediction markets. It describes access, not a legal ruling, and it can change. This page is general information, not legal advice.
What Kalshi is and who regulates it
Kalshi is an exchange for event contracts: yes-or-no contracts on real-world outcomes such as an election, an economic number, the weather or a game. The exchange is run by KalshiEX LLC. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) designated KalshiEX as a contract market (a "DCM") on 3 November 2020 (CFTC release 8302-20). Kalshi began offering sports event contracts in January 2025 (Sports Betting Dime).
Kalshi's permission to run an exchange comes from a federal regulator, not from a Texas licence. Kalshi argues that federal commodities law covers its contracts. Several states argue that sports contracts are gambling under their own laws, and federal appeals courts have split on that question. The dispute is about sports contracts; markets on politics, the economy and weather are not what those cases turn on.
Our editor has a funded Kalshi account.
Kalshi's status in Texas
Kalshi accepts Texas residents. Kalshi publishes no list of states in its help centre, so "accepts" rests on the partner offer list (which includes Texas) and on the fact that our legal timeline contains no Texas order, lawsuit or exit.
What has happened in Texas is debate, not enforcement:
- A study order. On 27 March 2026 Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told the Senate State Affairs Committee to study prediction-market gambling and how it fits with Texas gambling law ahead of the 2027 session. That is a study directive, not a change in law (Texas Tribune).
- A hearing. On 15 September 2026 the committee heard testimony, including recommendations that Texas sue operators in state court or make clear that sports event contracts are illegal gambling. No legislation was passed (Covers).
- No court fight. Texas is not one of the states that have sued Kalshi, and in March 2026 it was reported not to have joined the 39 attorneys general who filed a brief arguing federal law does not override state gambling laws (Event Horizon). That report reflects the position on that date.
What changed: dated change-log for Texas
Newest first. Entries come from our corrected legal timeline (IDs in brackets) and cover Texas plus the federal events that matter here.
| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Oct 2026 | CFTC issues an interim final rule excluding "casino-style gambling products" (such as wagers at sportsbooks and on casino games) from the definition of swap. The rule is final but not yet in effect: it takes effect when published in the Federal Register, and it had not been published as of 13 Oct 2026 | CFTC release 9309-26 |
| 9 Oct 2026 | CFTC proposes a separate rule that would expressly include event contracts (sports, politics, culture, weather) in the definition of swap. This is a proposal, not a final rule; comments are due 30 days after Federal Register publication | CFTC release 9310-26 |
| 25 Sep 2026 | Sixth Circuit rules against Kalshi in Ohio and Tennessee (preliminary stage; does not cover Texas) | Sixth Circuit opinion |
| 15 Sep 2026 | Texas Senate State Affairs Committee holds a hearing on prediction markets; no legislation passed | Covers |
| 11 Sep 2026 | Crypto.com asks the Supreme Court to review the Ninth Circuit ruling (No. 26-344) | Supreme Court docket |
| 10 Sep 2026 | Kalshi asks the Ninth Circuit for a rehearing; Robinhood petitions the Supreme Court (No. 26-338) | Sports Betting Dime |
| 2 Sep 2026 | New Jersey asks the Supreme Court to review the Third Circuit ruling (No. 26-299) | New Jersey Attorney General |
| 28 Aug 2026 | Ninth Circuit rules for Nevada regulators in KalshiEX v. Assad (preliminary stage; does not cover Texas) | Ninth Circuit opinion |
| 10 Jun 2026 | CFTC proposes a framework for sports and other "enumerated activity" contracts (not final) | CFTC release 9249-26 |
| 6 Apr 2026 | Third Circuit sides with Kalshi against New Jersey (2-1, preliminary stage) | Third Circuit opinion |
| 30 Mar 2026 | Texas reported not among the 39 attorneys general on a brief opposing prediction markets | Event Horizon |
| 27 Mar 2026 | Lt. Gov. Patrick directs the Senate to study prediction markets before the 2027 session | Texas Tribune |
What the courts have decided
Federal appeals courts are split on sports event contracts, all at the preliminary-injunction stage: the Third Circuit sided with Kalshi (6 April 2026), the Ninth (28 August 2026) and Sixth (25 September 2026) sided with the states, and three Supreme Court petitions (Nos. 26-299, 26-338, 26-344) are pending; none has been granted.
"Preliminary stage" means the courts decided who is likely to win while the cases go on, not the final answer. None of these rulings binds courts in Texas, which is in the Fifth Circuit.
| Court | Case and date | Outcome | States it binds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third Circuit | KalshiEX LLC v. Flaherty, No. 25-1922, 6 Apr 2026 | For Kalshi, 2-1: upheld the injunction blocking New Jersey enforcement | NJ, PA, DE |
| Ninth Circuit | KalshiEX LLC v. Assad (Nevada), No. 25-7516, 28 Aug 2026 | For Nevada, 3-0: Kalshi had not shown federal law likely overrides Nevada gaming rules for sports contracts | AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA |
| Sixth Circuit | KalshiEX LLC v. Schuler (Ohio) / v. Orgel (Tennessee), Nos. 26-3196, 26-5235, 25 Sep 2026 | For the states, 3-0: no express or implied preemption shown | KY, MI, OH, TN |
The three Supreme Court petitions
| No. | Case | From | Response due | Status (3 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26-299 | Flaherty (New Jersey) v. KalshiEX | Third Circuit | 9 Nov 2026 (Kalshi; extended from 8 Oct) | Pending, not granted |
| 26-338 | Robinhood Derivatives v. Dreitzer (Nevada) | Ninth Circuit | 13 Nov 2026 (Nevada) | Pending, not granted |
| 26-344 | North American Derivatives Exchange (Crypto.com) v. Nevada | Ninth Circuit | 16 Nov 2026 (Nevada) | Pending, not granted |
Response dates can be extended. The earliest the Court could decide whether to hear any of them is an estimate of December 2026 to January 2027, not a scheduled date.
Age and eligibility
- Kalshi's own minimum age is 18. Its sign-up help page says "Be 18 years or older" (Kalshi Help Center (opens in a new tab)).
- We recommend 21+. That is this site's editorial policy, not a Kalshi or Texas rule.
Kalshi may ask you to pass a document check at sign-up. Its help centre also says it is each member's responsibility to make sure their use of the exchange is lawful for them.
Texas tax note
Texas has no state income tax, so there is no Texas income tax on trading profits. Federal tax is a different matter, and it is unsettled: the IRS has issued no guidance on how event contracts should be classified. Keep a record of every deposit, trade and withdrawal. This is not tax advice; ask a tax professional how it applies to you. More in our Kalshi taxes in Texas guide.
How to sign up for Kalshi in Texas
- Open Kalshi through our link: Sign up at Kalshi (opens in a new tab)
- Enter your basic personal details and your Texas address.
- Pass the document check if Kalshi asks for one; Kalshi emails you when the account is approved.
- Enter code TXPREDICTS if you are asked for a code (you can use either our link or the code).
- Deposit. The minimum deposit is $10. Bank transfer (ACH) and wire deposits are free; debit card deposits (including Apple Pay and Google Pay) may carry a 2% processing fee.
- Read a market's rules before your first trade, and start small.
Kalshi offer: Trade $25 and Get $25! Code TXPREDICTS. 21+ recommended. Sign up at Kalshi (opens in a new tab)
Certain limitations apply. The offer is available to new users only, subject to the terms and conditions at kalshi.com/tc/500. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information.
The welcome offer covers 47 states plus D.C., including Texas. That is the offer's eligibility, not a statement about where Kalshi is legal.
More detail: how to use Kalshi from Texas, how to withdraw from Kalshi and our Kalshi review.
Kalshi vs Polymarket US vs ProphetX vs OG in Texas
| Kalshi | Polymarket US | ProphetX | OG (by Crypto.com) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulator | CFTC (DCM since 4 Nov 2020) | CFTC (DCM and clearing house since 9 Jul 2025) | CFTC (DCM since 11 Jun 2026) | CFTC-regulated exchange (NADEX is a DCM) |
| Status in Texas | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| Minimum age (operator) | 18 (we recommend 21+) | 18 (we recommend 21+) | 18 or local age of majority if higher (we recommend 21+) | 18 (we recommend 21+) |
| Devices | Web, iOS app, Android app | Polymarket US app | Web, mobile app | Web, mobile app |
| Sign-up offer | Trade $25 and Get $25! Code TXPREDICTS | Deposit $10 get a $25 Trading Bonus! Code TXPREDICTS | Trade $50, Earn $75! Code TXPREDICTS | Trade $25 Get $50 in Rewards! (New users only) Code TXPREDICTS |
| Fees in one line | A fee on each executed trade, based on price and number of contracts, shown before you confirm | Since October 2026 a taker fee by price, highest near 50 cents (about $1.74 per 100 contracts); resting orders pay no fee (rebates only for very high-volume traders from October 19, 2026) | 2% of net winnings per market on straight trades | A fee to open or close a position, by price on most markets; $0.02 per contract on crypto, FX, commodity and index markets; none at settlement |
Fees checked 3 October 2026 on each operator's help pages. The offer terms for each brand are printed with its offer below.
Alternatives available in Texas
Every platform below is "Available" in Texas as of 3 October 2026.
Polymarket US. Runs on QCX LLC, a CFTC-designated exchange, through the Polymarket US app. See is Polymarket legal in Texas?
Offer: Deposit $10 get a $25 Trading Bonus! Code TXPREDICTS. 21+ recommended. Sign up at Polymarket US (opens in a new tab)
18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization.
ProphetX. A CFTC-designated exchange since June 2026, on web and mobile. See is ProphetX legal in Texas?
Offer: Trade $50, Earn $75! Code TXPREDICTS. 21+ recommended. Sign up at ProphetX (opens in a new tab)
New users only. T&Cs apply. ProphetX's minimum age is 18 (or the local age of majority if higher); we recommend 21+. Not available in Nevada. Trading involves risk.
OG (by Crypto.com). Run by North American Derivatives Exchange, Inc. (NADEX), a designated contract market. OG's welcome offer covers 42 states plus D.C., including Texas.
Offer: Trade $25 Get $50 in Rewards! (New users only) Code TXPREDICTS, or use our link and leave the code box empty. 21+ recommended. Sign up at OG (opens in a new tab)
Paid partnership with OG. Terms and conditions apply. Trading derivatives involves risk and may not be appropriate for all. Availability subject to jurisdictional limitations. For more information, visit: OG.com.
Novig. A sports-focused exchange (Ludlow Exchange, LLC), CFTC-designated since June 2026. Its own minimum age is 21. Pre-game straight trades are free; live trades, futures and parlays carry a price-based taker fee.
Offer: Deposit $10 Get $50 in Trade Credits! Code TXPREDICTS. 21+. Sign up at Novig (opens in a new tab)
Restrictions & requirements apply. Not available in all states. 21+. Event contract trading involves risk & is not appropriate for all. Consider if it's appropriate for you in light of financial circumstances. See novig.com/terms for information.
Rebet. A different kind of product: a social sports app run as a sweepstakes (Rebet Coins for fun play, free Rebet Cash for prize sweepstakes). It is not CFTC-regulated and not an exchange. Texas is among the states its rules allow.
Offer: Get a 100% purchase match up to $100! Code TXPREDICTS. Sign up at Rebet (opens in a new tab)
18+ (we recommend 21+). Eligible states only. Sweepstakes rules apply. Rebet is not a CFTC-regulated exchange.
What could change Kalshi's status in Texas
- The Legislature. It convenes on 12 January 2027. After the September hearing, bills on prediction markets are possible; none exists yet.
- A state lawsuit. Witnesses at the hearing recommended that Texas sue operators in state court. No suit has been filed.
- The Supreme Court. If it takes one of the three cases, its answer would apply in every circuit, including the Fifth. Nevada's responses are now due 13 and 16 November 2026; Kalshi's response in the New Jersey case is due 9 November 2026.
- The CFTC. Its June 2026 proposals on sports and other event contracts are not final. On 9 October 2026 it issued an interim final rule excluding casino-style gambling products from the definition of swap (final, but in effect only once published in the Federal Register; not yet published as of 13 October 2026) and, separately, proposed a rule that would expressly include event contracts in that definition (a proposal only, with a 30-day comment period after publication).
If any of these happens, the status on this page and the change-log are updated. We re-check weekly.
Sources
- KalshiEX LLC designated a contract market: CFTC release 8302-20 (4 Nov 2020; checked 3 Oct 2026)
- Kalshi sign-up requirements, minimum age 18: Kalshi Help Center (opens in a new tab) (checked 3 Oct 2026)
- Kalshi deposits and withdrawals: Kalshi Help Center, Transfers FAQ (opens in a new tab) (checked 3 Oct 2026)
- Kalshi fees: Kalshi Help Center, Fees (opens in a new tab) (checked 3 Oct 2026)
- Texas Senate hearing: Covers (15 Sep 2026)
- Lt. Gov. Patrick's interim charge: Texas Tribune (27 Mar 2026)
- Texas and the attorneys general brief: Event Horizon (30 Mar 2026)
- Third Circuit, KalshiEX v. Flaherty, No. 25-1922: opinion (6 Apr 2026)
- Ninth Circuit, KalshiEX v. Assad, No. 25-7516: opinion (28 Aug 2026)
- Sixth Circuit, Nos. 26-3196 and 26-5235: opinion (25 Sep 2026)
- Supreme Court dockets 26-299, 26-338, 26-344 (read 3 Oct 2026)
- CFTC proposed framework for event contracts: CFTC release 9249-26 (10 Jun 2026)
- CFTC interim final rule and proposed rule on the definition of swap: CFTC release 9309-26 and CFTC release 9310-26 (9 Oct 2026)
- Polymarket US, ProphetX, OG, Novig and Rebet details: operator help pages, Rebet sweepstakes rules and CFTC registers listed in our facts file (checked 3 Oct 2026)
- Offers: partner offer export (offers live 1 Oct 2026)
Last checked 14 October 2026. This is a factual summary, not legal or tax advice. Trade responsibly; if it stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kalshi legal in Texas?
Kalshi's status in Texas is Available, as of 3 October 2026. Kalshi accepts Texas residents and no Texas enforcement action was found. A Senate committee held a hearing on 15 September 2026, and the Legislature next meets in January 2027. This is not legal advice.
Can people living in Texas use Kalshi?
Available (as of October 3, 2026). Kalshi accepts Texas residents as of 3 October 2026. You need to meet Kalshi's minimum age of 18 (we recommend 21+) and may be asked to pass a document check.
What contracts can Texas residents trade on Kalshi?
We found no court order or state action that blocks any category of Kalshi contracts in Texas. Kalshi does not publish a per-state contract list, so check what the app shows you when you log in.
Do you pay tax on Kalshi winnings in Texas?
Texas has no state income tax. Federal treatment is unsettled because the IRS has issued no guidance on event contracts. Keep records and ask a tax professional.
How old do you have to be to use Kalshi in Texas?
Kalshi's own minimum age is 18. We recommend 21+.
Could Texas ban Kalshi?
Texas lawmakers are studying the question. At the 15 September 2026 hearing, witnesses recommended a state lawsuit or a law saying sports event contracts are illegal gambling. The Legislature convenes on 12 January 2027. Nothing has changed in Texas law so far.
Is Polymarket legal in Texas too?
Polymarket US is also Available in Texas as of 3 October 2026, through the Polymarket US app.
21+ · T&Cs apply · Terms
Certain limitations apply. The offer is available to new users only, subject to the terms and conditions at kalshi.com/tc/500. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information.
