Nevada obtains injunction against Polymarket
The regulatory dispute over predictive markets in the United States added a new chapter with a direct impact on the Latin American debate. The Nevada Gaming Control Board obtained a preliminary injunction against Polymarket, one of the most visible platforms in the segment, which now sees its operation suspended within the state while the underlying case proceeds. The decision comes at a time when various regulators in the region are closely monitoring how this market, which combines financial derivatives, sports betting, and political predictions in a single interface, is being regulated.
The measure was granted by Judge Woodbury of the First Judicial District Court of Nevada, who accepted the request submitted by the regulatory body. The order against Polymarket joins previous measures that already restricted Kalshi and Coinbase from offering or facilitating contracts on sports events, political elections, and entertainment within the state, forming a coordinated front against operators without a gaming license.
A firm stance from the regulator
The NGCB chairman, Mike Dreitzer, defended the agency's course of action and anticipated further measures if platforms operating without authorization emerge. The official emphasized that the regulator will continue to rigorously enforce Nevada law to safeguard gaming activity within the state, in a context where the line between sports betting and event contracts is blurring ever more rapidly in the digital ecosystem.
During the International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking, held at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Dreitzer called on the gaming industry to take a more active stance against the advancement of these products. For the regulator, defending regulatory standards built over decades is not a hindrance to innovation, but a condition for preserving market integrity and consumer protection. This distinction is key to understanding the regulators' perspective: the problem is not new products, but rather these products circumventing the compliance frameworks already in place for authorized gaming.
The front expands to other states
Judicial pressure on predictive platforms has also escalated in other jurisdictions. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha filed a lawsuit against Kalshi and Polymarket, arguing that although the contracts offered by these platforms have technical differences from traditional sports betting, they allow predictions on match outcomes and individual athlete performance. For the prosecution, this functionality is sufficient to classify the activity under state gambling laws.
The most drastic move came from Minnesota, which became the first U.S. state to criminalize prediction markets. The law, signed by Governor Tim Walz with bipartisan support, will take effect on August 1, 2026. Representative Emma Greenman, author of the bill, stated that each state has a duty to define what regulations it will apply to gambling to protect public safety and minors, an argument that is replicated in several open legislative debates in the region.
A signal for Latin America
For Latin America, the Nevada case adds to a set of precedents that have already begun to have local correlation. Brazil advanced this year with a resolution from the National Monetary Council to limit the operation of platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi within the country, and regulators in Argentina, Colombia, and Chile are observing how the boundary between sports betting, derivatives, and predictive markets is resolved in different jurisdictions. If the United States consolidates a scheme based on requiring state licenses and blocking unauthorized platforms, that logic is highly likely to inspire the region's next regulatory frameworks.
Tags: United States, prediction markets, Polymarket Nevada, online gambling regulation, Kalshi