Missouri Attorney General Orders Six Prediction Market Platforms to Cease Sports Wagering

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued cease-and-desist orders to six major prediction market and trading platforms for offering sports event contracts to state residents without a gaming license ¹. The enforcement actions target Polymarket, Kalshi, Crypto.com, Robinhood, Novig, and Underdog, accusing them of operating unlicensed sports wagering operations ¹.

According to the Attorney General's Office, packaging sports wagers as "event contracts" does not exempt operators from state gambling laws ¹. Hanaway stated that federal courts have affirmed state jurisdiction over online wagering platforms and rejected claims that sports event contracts qualify as federal swaps under the Commodity Exchange Act ¹. The regulator also alleged that Polymarket, Kalshi, Crypto.com, Underdog, and Robinhood fail to enforce adequate safeguards to block individuals under the age of 21 from placing bets ¹.

State Regulatory Pushback

The orders follow Missouri's approval of Amendment 2 in 2024, which established a legalized sports wagering framework regulated by the Missouri Gaming Commission ¹. That voter-approved measure, which formally opened the state market on Dec. 1, 2025, mandates a 10% tax on sports betting gross receipts to fund public education ¹. Operators must hold a commission license to offer online, mobile, or in-person sports bets ¹.

Hanaway demanded that the six platforms immediately halt sports contracts in Missouri until they acquire licensing from the Missouri Gaming Commission ¹. The Attorney General's Office warned that continued operations without compliance will prompt direct state enforcement action ¹.