Utah charges Kalshi and its CEO with illegally promoting online gambling

<figure> <img alt="A photo of Kalshi co-founder Tarek Mansour" data-caption="Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour. | Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images" data-portal-copyright="Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/10/gettyimages-2301796292.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour. | Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Utah has <a href="https://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Utah-v.-Kalshi.pdf">filed criminal charges</a> against Kalshi and its executives, accusing the prediction market of breaking anti-gambling laws, <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/2026/10/28/utah-files-14-criminal-charges/">as reported by <em>The Salt Lake Tribune</em></a> and the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kalshi-prediction-markets-utah-42468686dad6981f58436befdedee03d"><em>Associated Press</em></a>. The state has filed 14 charges against Kalshi, as well as CEO Tarek Mansour and COO Luana Lopes Lara, including 12 counts of illegally promoting online gambling.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The move marks an escalation in a nationwide battle against prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket. Utah has already <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/2026/10/20/utah-sues-kalshi-brazen-pattern/">sued Kalshi over claims</a> that it's operating illegally in the state, joining several other states, including <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/973709/new-york-kalshi-lawsuit-illegal-gambling-operation">New York</a>, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/880658/nevada-kalshi-prediction-market-lawsuit">Nevada</a>, <a href="https://sourcenm.com/2026/06/04/new-mexico-ag-torrez-sues-kalshi-for-allowing-allegedly-illegal-sports-betting/">New Mexico</a>, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/903026/washington-state-sues-kalshi">Washington</a>, <a href="https://abcnews.com/Business/connecticut-sues-kalshi-block-alleged-unlicensed-sports-gambling/story?id=136000170">Connecticu …</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/1022400/utah-kalshi-criminal-charges">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>