Baltimore sues Kalshi and Polymarket for offering unlicensed sports betting

Legal action filed today by the City of Baltimore targets Kalshi and Polymarket, alleging that the platforms have facilitated illegal sports betting and prediction market gambling. These lawsuits seek to address potential violations of consumer protection laws, arguing that the entities operated without the necessary licenses required for such activity.

The filings draw a direct line between the platforms' current betting structures and existing state regulations governing gambling operations. NBC Sports, CBS News, The Baltimore Sun, and WBAL-TV report that the city contends these prediction markets function as unlicensed sportsbooks.

The specific legal mechanisms utilized by the city focus on the classification of these markets under local consumer protection statutes. As the litigation proceeds, the courts will determine whether the operations provided by Kalshi and Polymarket fall under the regulatory purview invoked by the city.