Wisconsin Federal Judge Hands Tribes First IGRA Win Against Kalshi Sports Bets

"U.S. District Judge William M. Conley ruled on Monday that the Ho-Chunk Nation has shown a likelihood of success in its lawsuit accusing Kalshi of violating the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act by offering sports event contracts on tribal land, according to Bloomberg's reporting on the ruling. The Ho-Chunk Nation, a federally recognized Native American tribe, filed the case last August in the US District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin against Kalshi Inc., KalshiEX LLC, Robinhood Markets Inc., and Robinhood Derivatives LLC."

"The order reverses the dominant federal court pattern from earlier tribal challenges to Kalshi and signals the first federal precedent siding with tribes in the operator's nationwide IGRA litigation. In November 2025, US District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in the Northern District of California denied a temporary restraining order sought by Blue Lake Rancheria, Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians, and Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians. Corley held at the time that the plaintiffs had not met their burden of showing a likelihood of success on their IGRA claim."

"Judge Conley issued first federal IGRA ruling siding with tribe against Kalshi on May 11, 2026. Wisconsin ruling reverses November 2025 California precedent that denied three tribes a similar block. Ho-Chunk case includes RICO claim against Kalshi and Robinhood; trial date set for May 24, 2027."

A federal judge in Wisconsin ruled that the Ho-Chunk Nation is likely to succeed in blocking Kalshi from offering sports event contracts on tribal land under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The ruling reverses a prior California decision from November 2025 that denied three tribes a temporary restraining order against Kalshi. The Ho-Chunk Nation sued Kalshi and related entities, along with Robinhood entities, alleging IGRA violations tied to sports event contracts offered on tribal land. The case also includes a RICO claim. A trial date was set for May 24, 2027, and the Wisconsin order is described as the first federal precedent siding with tribes in Kalshi’s nationwide IGRA litigation.

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