Updated
Updated · Sportico · Aug 25
Prediction Markets Coalition Spends $50,000 Lobbying California as State Pressure Mounts
Updated
Updated · Sportico · Aug 25

Prediction Markets Coalition Spends $50,000 Lobbying California as State Pressure Mounts

2 articles · Updated · Sportico · Aug 25

Summary

  • $50,000 in California lobbying from April to July put the Coalition for Prediction Markets before the offices of Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom, according to state disclosures.
  • The push comes as prediction-market firms face lawsuits from state attorneys general and tribal groups, proposed congressional limits, and court rulings that have already forced temporary product restrictions in Michigan, Nevada and Washington.
  • $100,000 more went to federal lobbying in the second quarter through Invariant, which said it was educating policymakers on event contracts and monitoring regulatory proposals; a spin-off, Determinant, will handle future work.
  • The coalition's members — including Kalshi, Crypto.com, Coinbase, Robinhood and Underdog — are adding this effort to their own campaigns, though member contributions to the group were not disclosed.
  • Kalshi still far outspends the coalition, with more than $1.7 million in federal lobbying in the first half of 2026, while casino and sportsbook groups opposing prediction markets are collectively on pace to top $50 million this year.

Insights

With traditional casinos spending millions to fight them, can prediction market platforms survive the looming nationwide regulatory crackdown?
Are prediction markets a financial forecasting revolution, or just a clever loophole to bypass strict state gambling laws?