Massachusetts Court Delays Injunction Against Kalshi

A Massachusetts court delayed enforcement of an order that would block Kalshi from operating in the state, keeping the company active for now. The pause followed a Suffolk Superior Court judge's earlier approval of a preliminary injunction sought by the Attorney General, while allowing time for further filings and potential appeals.

In September, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell sued New York-based Kalshi, alleging it offered unlicensed sports betting through online prediction markets. The state argued the platform allowed users to wager on sporting outcomes without authorization under Massachusetts law. Kalshi maintained it operated a federally regulated prediction market and was therefore beyond state jurisdiction.

Judge Christopher K. Barry-Smith rejected Kalshi's preemption argument last week, finding Congress did not intend to prevent states from regulating sports betting. He ruled that the Attorney General was entitled to a preliminary injunction barring Kalshi from conducting business in Massachusetts pending the litigation. That litigation could continue for months or years.

Yet, despite his earlier decision, Barry-Smith delayed the injunction's implementation to allow both sides to confer on draft language for the order. The court set a deadline of Feb. 4 for proposed drafts. The judge also agreed to consider Kalshi's emergency request to stay while the company appeals.

Campbell characterized the ruling as an affirmation of state authority over gaming activity. Her office said companies offering sports wagering in Massachusetts must comply with state licensing and oversight requirements. Kalshi continued to argue its contracts resembled financial instruments rather than traditional bets.

Kalshi Markets Intersect with NFL Hall of Fame Forecasting

The legal dispute is unfolding as Kalshi continues to attract attention for non-game markets, including sports-related honors. The 2026 NFL Hall of Fame nominees will be announced during the NFL Honours ceremony on Feb. 5 in San Francisco, just days before Super Bowl 2026.

Fifteen finalists were named earlier this month. Four candidates, Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly, and Adam Vinatieri, returned after finishing among the final seven last year. The Hall typically inducts four to eight members annually, with candidates requiring 80% approval.

The 2025 class included Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates, and Sterling Sharpe, making it the smallest induction class in two decades. That context has fueled interest in forecasting tools that estimate voting outcomes.

Kalshi lists contracts tied to potential inductees, reflecting trader expectations rather than official voting results. Current market pricing on prediction market apps suggested Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald are near certainties, with Kuechly and Vinatieri also strongly favored. Other candidates, including Eli Manning, Frank Gore, and Jason Witten, trailed with lower implied probabilities.

To the surprise of most, Bill Belichick, the former head coach of the New England Patriots and one of the most accredited coaches of all time, was not nominated in his first year of eligibility.