CARSON CITY — A Nevada judge has granted a preliminary injunction barring prediction market operator Polymarket from offering event-based contracts in the state, the latest enforcement action by gaming regulators against unlicensed platforms.
First Judicial District Court Judge Jason Woodbury indicated he would issue the order against QCX LLC, doing business as Polymarket, following a hearing last week. Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford announced the development on June 3, 2026. The injunction prevents the company from offering sports-, election- or entertainment-related event contracts to Nevada residents while the state's enforcement action proceeds. A written order was expected shortly after the announcement.
The ruling follows similar preliminary injunctions against other platforms, including Kalshi and Coinbase, obtained earlier in 2026. Nevada gaming officials argue that such event contracts constitute wagering under state law and require a gaming license.
Polymarket and other operators have maintained that their platforms offer CFTC-regulated commodity event contracts, not gambling, and that federal oversight preempts state restrictions. Details on any immediate appeal or response from Polymarket remain unclear.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board has pursued civil enforcement actions to protect the state's regulated gaming industry. Attorney General Ford stated the decision was “a win for Nevada consumers against businesses that are attempting to use muddled loopholes to work around Nevada’s world-class gaming regulation authority.”
The cases highlight ongoing jurisdictional tensions between state gaming authorities and federal commodity regulators. Similar disputes have played out in other states and federal appeals courts, with varying outcomes.
As of early June 2026, the injunction remains in effect against Polymarket. The broader legal challenges involving multiple prediction market platforms and Nevada authorities are expected to continue, potentially heading toward higher courts. Details on the exact scope of the latest order and any further proceedings were not fully detailed in initial announcements.
