Are Prediction Markets Legal in Maryland?

Last updated August 16, 2026. Snapshot — not legal advice.

As of August 16, 2026, the legality of prediction markets in Maryland is unresolved — litigation is ongoing with no final ruling yet.

Prediction markets in Maryland

Contested — state authority upheld (preliminary)
A federal district court denied Kalshi’s injunction, holding the Commodity Exchange Act does not preempt Maryland’s betting law (KalshiEX LLC v. Martin, 2025). The Fourth Circuit heard argument in May 2026 and was reportedly skeptical of Kalshi’s theory; the state agreed not to enforce until the court rules.

Litigation affecting Maryland

KalshiEX LLC v. MartinKalshi’s injunction denied (2025); the Fourth Circuit heard argument in May 2026 and appeared skeptical of Kalshi.
Injunction denied; on appeal (4th Cir.)
Mayor and City Council of Baltimore v. KalshiBaltimore sued Kalshi and three brokerage distributors under the city’s Consumer Protection Ordinance — the first municipal action of the fight.
Filed — municipal consumer-protection action
Mayor and City Council of Baltimore v. PolymarketBaltimore filed a separate consumer-protection action against Polymarket alongside its Kalshi suit.
Filed — municipal consumer-protection action

Sports betting & gambling in Maryland

Legal — Online & Retail

Approved by 2020 referendum; retail December 2021, statewide mobile November 2022 The market is regulated by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. Tribal gaming: not a factor.

The federal-vs-state fight

Every entry in this fight turns on the same question: does a prediction-market platform's federal regulation by the CFTC preempt a state's gambling law, or does the state retain authority to restrict it? Courts around the country are answering that question differently — sometimes for the platform, sometimes for the state — and almost every ruling so far is preliminary and under appeal. Treat this page as a snapshot, not a final word.

This page is informational, not legal advice. Nearly every litigation entry referenced here is a preliminary ruling under appeal. Always verify a platform's current, location-specific eligibility directly with the venue before relying on this page.