Missouri AG Order Prediction Markets to Cease & Desist
Mike Goodpaster Published 02/10/2026
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has acknowledged that she has sent cease-and-desist letters to all prediction market apps that are offering sports-event contracts in the state. Hanaway is accusing these sites of offering illegal sports betting in the Show-Me State. She feels that the prediction market sites are doing an end run around Missouri's sports betting laws. Hanaway is also concerned that prediction market sites allow players as young as 18. In sports betting, players must be 21 years of age or older.
Missouri is among the most recent states to legalize online sports betting. Sports betting was legalized in 2024, and the first bets were placed on December 1, 2025.
Missouri AG Hanaway is ready to fight the prediction market sites
Chalk up Missouri's Catherine Hanaway as the latest state Attorney General to oppose prediction market sites on the grounds that the sports-event contracts offered on these sites are nothing more than illegal sports betting.
“Missourians voted for a safe, well‑regulated sports wagering market that supports public education and addresses problem gambling," Hanaway said in a statement. "Companies cannot repackage sports bets as ‘event contracts’ to avoid Missouri law."
The Missouri AG is also vowing to protect the Missouri gambling laws in terms of the legal age people are able to participate. That age limit is 21 in the Show-Me State. Prediction markets welcome players as young as 18.
"We will enforce the rules voters approved and protect consumers," Hanaway said. "Any company that wants to offer sports wagering in Missouri must be licensed by the Missouri Gaming Commission, pay the required taxes and fees, and ensure no one under 21 can place a bet.”
Hanaway sent cease-and-desist letters to six prediction market sites
The Missouri AG sent specific cease-and-desist letters to six separate prediction market sites. Polymarket, Kalshi, Robinhood, Crypto.com, Novig, and Underdog were all issued letters.
Here's how Hanaway's letter to Polymarket read:
"Polymarket is an online sports wagering platform offering sports wagering to individuals located in the State of Missouri, despite not submitting to regulation by the Missouri Gaming Commission as required by Missouri law," the letter reads. "At this time, Polymarket has two options: (1) it must cease and desist from such activity; or (2) it must (a) obtain a license from the Missouri Gaming Commission, (b) pay all associated state taxes and fees, and (c) stop offering sports wagering to persons in the State of Missouri under the age of 21.
"If Polymarket persists in violating Missouri law, the State of Missouri will pursue available enforcement actions against Polymarket."
A relative newcomer to sports betting, Missouri is still ready to flex its muscles
The language in Hanaway's letter to Kalshi shows that Missouri isn't playing around. It's ready to take quick action to halt prediction markets from offering sports-event contracts in the state.
"Like many states, Missouri regulates sports betting," the letter reads. "This licensing requirement for online sports wagering platforms is not optional and applies to Kalshi. Thus, by offering sports wagering in Missouri without a license, Kalshi has been—and continues to be—in violation of Missouri law.
"Kalshi’s failure to comply with Missouri law also includes its failure to pay state taxes and fees. Kalshi, of course, has made money from sports wagers placed by individuals located in the State of Missouri. Yet Kalshi has kept all of that money for itself and disregarded its obligation to pay a portion to the state for the benefit of Missourians.
"Unless and until Kalshi fulfills that obligation, it will not be permitted to offer the use of its online sports wagering platform in Missouri."