13 bills are currently pending that could expand, restrict, or fundamentally reshape the legal framework for prediction markets. Here's where each stands — and what markets say about the odds.
Last updated: April 17, 2026
All bill data requires verification against live congress.gov entries. Bill numbers marked TBD need official congress.gov numbers. Market tickers are null until Kalshi/Polymarket markets are matched and verified.
Three categories of bills, three different outcomes if passed.
These bills would explicitly legalize event contracts at the federal level — potentially ending the state-vs-CFTC litigation by clarifying that CFTC jurisdiction preempts state gaming law. If passed: Nevada, Massachusetts, Utah, and Illinois lawsuits likely become moot. Platforms would operate under a clear federal framework nationwide.
These bills would ban or heavily restrict specific categories of event contracts — sports, elections, government actions, war, and assassination. If any passed: Platforms like Kalshi would need to remove targeted market categories and refund open positions in those categories. Political and economic contracts would generally remain unaffected.
These bills add new oversight requirements — insider trading restrictions, mandatory disclosures, position limits — without explicitly legalizing or banning prediction markets broadly. Effect: increased compliance cost for platforms and restrictions on government officials; unlikely to change regular user access directly. Some have bipartisan support.
No CFTC comment periods currently open for prediction market bill rulemakings.
When a related CFTC rulemaking opens a public comment period, we'll list it here with a direct link and the comment deadline. Visit CFTC.gov/comments ↗ to check directly.
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