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New Jersey Orders Robinhood, Kalshi to Cease Sports Event Contracts

Robert Linnehan

By Robert Linnehan in Sports Betting News

Published:


A sign posted on the Atlantic City Expressway welcomes vistors to Atlantic City.
A sign posted on the Atlantic City Expressway welcomes vistors to Atlantic City.
  • The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has levied two cease-and-desist letters against Robinhood, Kalshi for their sports event contracts
  • The division has ordered the companies to cease all operation by midnight tonight
  • Dustin Gouker’s The Closing Line was the first to report the news

Another state is taking a swing at Robinhood and Kalshi.

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has levied cease-and-desist orders to both Kalshi and Robinhood for their sports event contracts in the state. The division is giving the two companies until midnight tonight to cease offering the contracts in the Garden State.

Dustin Gouker’s The Closing Line was the first to report the news.

Event Contracts Equated to Illegal Sports Betting

According to the cease-and-desist orders, the division of gaming enforcement determined the event contracts are “unauthorized sports wagers for individuals located within the State of New Jersey.

“This activity constitutes a violation of the New Jersey Sports Wagering Act, which only permits licensed entities to offer sports wagering to patrons located in New Jersey,” Mary Jo Flaherty, interim director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, wrote in the letters.

Flaherty ordered both companies to confirm in writing by Friday, March 28, no later than 11:59 p.m. that they have ceased all sports wagering activities targeting New Jersey residents and have voided all wagers placed in the state.

If the companies do not comply, the Division of Gaming Enforcement noted it may take further enforcement action, which includes any and all measures available under state law.

Gouker noted on social media that Robinhood has agreed to cease its sport event contract offerings in New Jersey, but has not yet heard from Kalshi.

States Taking Action Against Sport Event Contracts

New Jersey is the second state this week to take action against the companies. Reuters recently reported Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin has instituted an investigation into Robinhood’s sports event contract offerings in the state.

His office sent the company a subpoena seeking information on their offerings. He described the company as one good at offering “gimmicks” to keep customers them from investing in sound practices.

Additionally, the Nevada Gaming Control Board was the first state commission to order Kalshi to cease its sports event contracts in the state. The NGCB believes Kalshi is violating numerous Nevada Revised Statutes and Nevada Gaming Commission Regulations by offering the sports event contracts.

According to the order, Kalshi’s event-based contracts for sports and elections is “unlawful in Nevada, unless and until approved as licensed gaming by the Nevada Gaming Commission.”

Additionally, the board informed Kalshi that even licensed sports pools in the state are prohibited from accepting wagers on elections.

“Every sports pool in Nevada must undergo an extensive investigation prior to licensing, must adhere to strict regulation once licensed, and must pay all applicable taxes and fees,” NGCB Chairman Kirk Hendrick said in a press release. “Any unlawful attempts to circumvent Nevada’s right to regulate gaming activity within its borders will be met with the full force of criminal and civil penalties.”

However, the NGCB agreed on Friday, March 14, to provide Kalshi with more time to make a decision.

The NGCB posted the following statement to its social media channels on the deadline:

“Regarding the cease and desist order sent to KalshiEX LLC, dba Kalshi, on March 4, 2025, the Nevada Gaming Control Board was recently contacted by outside counsel representing Kalshi. The company’s counsel requested, and the NGCB did not object to, a limited period of additional time for Kalshi to address the NGCB’s order. Further details will be provided when available.”

Robert Linnehan
Robert Linnehan

Regulatory Writer and Editor

Rob covers all regulatory developments in online gambling. He specializes in US sports betting news along with casino regulation news as one of the most trusted sources in the country.

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