Arabic version: أسواق التنبؤ وجماعات الألعاب ترفع إنفاقها في 2026

According to Cnbc, Kalshi, Polymarket-linked lobbyists and casino and gaming groups have increased their federal lobbying activity in 2026 as prediction markets face scrutiny from regulators and Congress. Kalshi spent $990,000 directly on lobbying in the first half of the year, nearly matching the $1 million it spent during all of 2025.

Including outside firms, Kalshi’s lobbying spending reached nearly $1.8 million in the first six months of 2026, its highest six-month total to date. The company has seven lobbying firms, including its in-house operation. Its rival Polymarket has a smaller Capitol Hill presence, using one firm that spent $180,000 on the client in the first half, putting it on pace to match the $360,000 spent in 2025.

Gaming interests are also increasing their spending. The American Gaming Association spent $1.39 million directly on lobbying so far in 2026. With outside firms included, its federal lobbying spending was nearly $1.8 million, 30% higher than in the first half of 2025. Cherokee Nation, which has casinos and other gaming interests, spent $600,000 in the first half of 2026.

Lawmakers have introduced bills addressing insider trading on prediction markets and seeking to restrict event contracts involving sports, elections and acts of war. Prediction market companies argue sports-related contracts are swaps that should be regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, while critics say they amount to sports betting generally regulated by states. The CFTC released a proposed prediction-markets rule in June and is accepting public comments. Prediction-markets legislation is considered unlikely in 2026 as Congress moves toward the November elections.