Is Kalshi legal in Maryland?
Kalshi accepts residents of Maryland, but sports event contracts are disputed there. What is available, what changed and when, and how to check.
Kalshi · Trade $25 and Get $25!
COLLEGEPMClaim (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.
At a glance
Available, with a legal dispute pending. Kalshi accepts eligible residents of Maryland under federal CFTC oversight. Maryland's regulator sent Kalshi a cease-and-desist letter in April 2025 and a federal judge denied Kalshi an injunction in August 2025; the state agreed to pause enforcement while Kalshi's Fourth Circuit appeal is pending, and the City of Baltimore sued Kalshi and Polymarket in August 2026. What you can trade in Maryland, sports contracts in particular, may change — see what changed. New traders trade $25 and get $25! with code COLLEGEPM.
Kalshi · Trade $25 and Get $25!
COLLEGEPM
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
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Trade real-money event contracts on Kalshi, the CFTC-regulated US exchange. Trade $25 and use bonus code COLLEGEPM at sign-up to get $25.
New traders only · 47 states + D.C.
Trade on Kalshi — Get $25 (opens in a new tab)21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
How Kalshi operates in Maryland
Kalshi is a Designated Contract Market regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) — the same federal category as major futures exchanges. Kalshi's position is that this federal framework governs its event contracts in Maryland. Maryland authorities or courts have disputed that for sports event contracts, and the question has not been finally decided.
Who can trade in Maryland
To open an account from Maryland you must be 18 or older (21+ in some jurisdictions), be a US resident, and complete Kalshi's identity verification (legal name, date of birth, address, and SSN). Verification is usually instant. Once you confirm your location, the app shows exactly which markets you can trade in Maryland.
What you can trade
Kalshi's core menu — politics, economics, climate, inflation, and culture markets — is broadly available in Maryland. Some sports-related contract categories have been challenged by state regulators and may be limited; Kalshi displays the current status for Maryland at sign-up. For the full national picture, see where Kalshi is legal state by state and our guide to whether Kalshi is legal.
How to sign up from Maryland
Have your driver's license or passport ready plus a US bank account for ACH. The whole flow takes about ten minutes, and new traders trade $25 and get $25! with bonus code COLLEGEPM.
Sign up on Kalshi → (opens in a new tab)21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
What changed in Maryland
Court rulings, regulator actions and bills that affect prediction markets in Maryland. Newest first. Checked against sources on October 1, 2026. This is a record of public events, not legal advice.
August 13, 2026
City of Baltimore sues Kalshi and Polymarket
Baltimore filed lawsuits alleging the two companies offer unlicensed sports betting and violate the city's consumer protection ordinance.
August 13, 2025
Maryland pauses enforcement against Kalshi pending Fourth Circuit appeal
According to a court filing, Maryland agreed not to enforce against Kalshi's sports event contracts until the Fourth Circuit rules on Kalshi's appeal. A Sixth Circuit opinion of September 25, 2026 described that appeal as still pending.
August 1, 2025
Federal judge denies Kalshi injunction in Maryland
U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson denied Kalshi's request for a preliminary injunction, finding it had not shown that federal commodities law likely preempts Maryland law. It was Kalshi's first such loss.
April 7, 2025
Maryland regulator sends cease-and-desist letters to three companies
The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission ordered Kalshi, Robinhood and Crypto.com to stop offering sports event contracts in the state.
Sources & further reading
- CFTC Grants Kalshi DCM Designation (Release 8342-21) (opens in a new tab)U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
- Designated Contract Markets under the Commodity Exchange Act (opens in a new tab)CFTC
- Kalshi — availability and eligibility (opens in a new tab)Kalshi
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21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Trade on ProphetX → (opens in a new tab)18+ only. New traders only. Offer terms are set by ProphetX and may change. Event contract trading involves risk, including loss of the funds you commit. ProphetX is a CFTC-regulated designated contract market and derivatives clearing organization. Not available in all states.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Trade 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.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kalshi legal in Maryland?
Kalshi accepts eligible residents of Maryland and operates under federal CFTC oversight as a Designated Contract Market. Maryland's regulator sent Kalshi a cease-and-desist letter in April 2025 and a federal judge denied Kalshi an injunction in August 2025; the state agreed to pause enforcement while Kalshi's Fourth Circuit appeal is pending, and the City of Baltimore sued Kalshi and Polymarket in August 2026. Courts have not finally decided whether state gambling law applies to sports event contracts, so what you can trade in Maryland may change. This is not legal advice.
Do I have to be 18 to trade on Kalshi in Maryland?
Yes. You must be 18 or older (21+ in some jurisdictions) and pass Kalshi's KYC identity verification. Event contracts are speculative and can result in loss of the funds you commit.
Can I trade sports markets on Kalshi in Maryland?
Sports event contracts are the disputed category in Maryland. Maryland's regulator sent Kalshi a cease-and-desist letter in April 2025 and a federal judge denied Kalshi an injunction in August 2025; the state agreed to pause enforcement while Kalshi's Fourth Circuit appeal is pending, and the City of Baltimore sued Kalshi and Polymarket in August 2026. The Kalshi app shows which markets are open in Maryland once you verify your location.
How do I get the Kalshi bonus in Maryland?
New traders in Maryland trade $25 and get $25! when they sign up through our link and enter bonus code COLLEGEPM at registration. Terms are set by Kalshi and may change.
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.
