{"id":320269,"date":"2026-06-23T12:01:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T16:01:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?post_type=short-read&p=320269"},"modified":"2026-06-23T12:01:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T16:01:23","slug":"more-than-half-of-states-restrict-betting-on-elections","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/06\/23\/more-than-half-of-states-restrict-betting-on-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"More than half of states restrict betting on elections"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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(Pew Research Center photo illustration; images via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

More than half of states have laws that prohibit betting or wagering on elections, at least under certain circumstances, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of data from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This analysis comes amid a recent surge in trading volume<\/a> on prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket. Both platforms allow people to trade on real-life events, including elections, by buying contracts staked on yes-or-no outcomes. This differs from traditional betting or gambling, where a central party \u2013 the \u201chouse\u201d \u2013 sets odds of a particular outcome happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About this research<\/summary>\n

This Pew Research Center analysis examines state-level efforts to regulate election betting and prediction markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did we do this?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pew Research Center does research to help the public, media and decision-makers understand important topics. This research builds on our recent work on gambling and the broader prediction economy \u2013 including U.S. attitudes toward sports betting<\/a> and views on the morality of gambling<\/a> around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Pew Research Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we do this?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This analysis is primarily based on information compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures<\/a>, an organization that represents state legislatures around the U.S. and tracks state-level policymaking. Some information comes from the Center\u2019s own analysis of state laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our analysis of state-level regulations excludes states whose laws do not explicitly mention election betting. As a result, some states that have broad laws on gambling \u2013 but do not have statutes that specifically address election betting \u2013 are in the \u201cno explicit law\u201d category.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Several states, such as Arizona<\/a> and Kentucky<\/a>, recently have taken legal action against the companies behind prediction markets for allegedly violating their laws against election betting. Lawmakers in more than a dozen states have also introduced bills that specifically aim to regulate prediction markets in some way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Federal regulators contend that platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket allow people to trade financial products \u2013 not place bets \u2013 so they should be exempt from state-level gambling bans. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has sued several states<\/a> to prevent them from regulating prediction markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related:<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Trading volume on prediction markets has soared in recent months<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which states prohibit election betting in some way?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Nearly half of states (23) prohibit election betting entirely, according to our analysis of NCSL data. For example, Arkansas law<\/a> says \u201cno person shall make any bet or wager upon the result of any election\u201d in the state. Kentucky also banned the practice<\/a> this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another nine states vary in how they regulate election betting and the exact circumstances under which it\u2019s illegal.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Election betting is illegal in some or all circumstances in 32 states<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Status of election betting under state laws, as of June 2026<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Note: Some states in the \u201cNo explicit law\u201d category have general laws banning unauthorized gambling and betting, as well as laws regulating prediction markets broadly, but do not have laws that specifically reference election betting.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
PEW RESEARCH CENTER<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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