Is Kalshi legal in New Jersey?

Kalshi and New Jersey gambling law

New Jersey is arguably the most sophisticated regulated-gambling market in the country — it was the state that took the sports-betting fight to the Supreme Court and won in Murphy v. NCAA (2018). That deep familiarity with gaming regulation makes New Jersey an important venue for the prediction-market conversation.

New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement sent Kalshi a cease-and-desist letter in March 2025 over its sports event contracts. Kalshi sued, won a preliminary injunction in April 2025, and the Third Circuit upheld that injunction on April 6, 2026 in a 2-1 ruling.

The dispute is not over: New Jersey asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the ruling on September 2, 2026, and the Court has not yet said whether it will hear the case. New Jersey traders confirm eligibility at sign-up, and what is available may change.

How Kalshi operates in New Jersey

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 New Jersey. New Jersey authorities or courts have disputed that for sports event contracts, and the question has not been finally decided.

Who can trade in New Jersey

To open an account from New Jersey 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 New Jersey.

What you can trade

Kalshi's core menu — politics, economics, climate, inflation, and culture markets — is broadly available in New Jersey. Some sports-related contract categories have been challenged by state regulators and may be limited; Kalshi displays the current status for New Jersey 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 New Jersey

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 New Jersey

Court rulings, regulator actions and bills that affect prediction markets in New Jersey. Newest first. Checked against sources on October 1, 2026. This is a record of public events, not legal advice.

1. September 2, 2026

   New Jersey asks U.S. Supreme Court to review Kalshi preemption ruling

   The New Jersey Attorney General filed a petition for certiorari asking the Supreme Court to decide whether prediction markets can offer sports contracts without following state sports-gambling laws. The office described it as the first such petition on this question; the Court has not yet said whether it will hear the case.

   Source: New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (opens in a new tab)

2. July 6, 2026

   New Jersey Senate committee advances amended prediction market tax bill

   Reported by Sports Betting Dime. Trade press reported that the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approved an amended version of bill S4447 that drops a licensing requirement and would impose a 9% surtax on prediction market operators. It has not become law. The date shown is the report date.

   Source: Sports Betting Dime (opens in a new tab)

3. April 6, 2026

   Third Circuit sides with Kalshi against New Jersey regulators

   In KalshiEX v. Flaherty, a divided Third Circuit panel upheld an injunction blocking New Jersey from enforcing its gambling laws against Kalshi's sports event contracts, finding Kalshi had a reasonable chance of showing federal commodities law preempts state law. One judge dissented.

   Source: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (opinion, No. 25-1922) (opens in a new tab)

4. April 28, 2025

   Federal court blocks New Jersey enforcement against Kalshi

   A federal district court in New Jersey granted Kalshi a preliminary injunction against the Division of Gaming Enforcement, allowing it to keep offering sports event contracts while the case continued. The Third Circuit upheld the injunction in April 2026.

   Source: Sports Betting Dime (opens in a new tab)

5. March 28, 2025

   Kalshi sues Nevada and New Jersey regulators

   Kalshi filed federal lawsuits against the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement in response to their cease-and-desist letters.

   Source: Event Horizon (opens in a new tab)

6. March 27, 2025

   New Jersey sends cease-and-desist letters to Kalshi and Robinhood

   The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement told Kalshi and Robinhood that their sports event contracts amount to unauthorized sports wagering in the state.

   Source: The Closing Line (opens in a new tab)

Frequently asked questions

Is Kalshi legal in New Jersey?

Kalshi accepts eligible residents of New Jersey and operates under federal CFTC oversight as a Designated Contract Market. New Jersey sent Kalshi a cease-and-desist letter in March 2025; the Third Circuit upheld an injunction protecting Kalshi on April 6, 2026, and New Jersey asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review that ruling on September 2, 2026. Courts have not finally decided whether state gambling law applies to sports event contracts, so what you can trade in New Jersey may change. This is not legal advice.

Do I have to be 18 to trade on Kalshi in New Jersey?

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 New Jersey?

Sports event contracts are the disputed category in New Jersey. New Jersey sent Kalshi a cease-and-desist letter in March 2025; the Third Circuit upheld an injunction protecting Kalshi on April 6, 2026, and New Jersey asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review that ruling on September 2, 2026. The Kalshi app shows which markets are open in New Jersey once you verify your location.

How do I get the Kalshi bonus in New Jersey?

New traders in New Jersey 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.