Is Kalshi Legal in Florida? Prediction Markets, CFTC & State Laws
Kalshi is fully legal in the state of Florida. Anyone who’s 18 years or older can sign up for Kalshi in the Sunshine State and begin trading contracts on sports, politics, pop culture, entertainment, cryptocurrency, and much more.
Kalshi is available in Florida and many states, including Texas and California, because it operates as a prediction market rather than an online sports betting site. Regulated at the federal level by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Kalshi allows users to purchase contracts on the outcomes of real-world events—similar to how the stock market works—instead of placing traditional sports betting wagers.
Kalshi Is Legal in Florida Under Federal Regulation
Many people have asked the question, “Is Kalshi legal in Florida?”, and the answer is currently yes. How? Well, prediction market platforms are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) instead of state-specific gambling laws that apply to traditional sportsbooks like BetMGM, FanDuel, Fanatics Sportsbook, DraftKings and more.
Right now, the only legal sportsbook for online sports betting in Florida is Hard Rock Bet, operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida under a gaming compact with the state.
How CFTC Regulation Makes Kalshi Legal in Florida
As a legitimate prediction market, Kalshi is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The CFTC has named Kalshi as a Designated Contract Market (DCM), meaning it’s a financial exchange rather than a gambling app. This regulation also ensures consumer protection, fair trading, and an additional level of trust.
With federal law dictating prediction markets, Kalshi can offer contracts on sporting events and other real world events without having to adhere to Florida sports betting laws, which only allow for a single platform (Hard Rock Bet) to take wagers.
Get Started with Kalshi in Florida
Here’s how to get started at Kalshi, one of the best prediction market apps in Florida:
- Use the sign-up links on this page to create a new Kalshi account. You can register with Google or Apple sign-in, or use another email.
- Complete identity verification with your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and address.
- Upload a valid photo ID (like a driver’s license or passport) to confirm your identity.
- After you’re approved to trade, make a deposit using one of the available methods, then enter the Florida code
GRINDERS so the bonus applies. - Place your first trade. From there, you can explore Kalshi FL markets and start trading.
Kalshi vs. Sports Betting in Florida: What’s the difference?
Florida allows for both prediction markets and traditional sports betting, but the two are very different.
| Prediction Markets | Sportsbooks | |
| Activity | Trade contracts on real world events | Set the odds on different bets |
| Against | Other users | The House |
| Pricing/Payouts | Set by the users themselves | Set by the sportsbook |
| Regulated by | CFTC, Federal law | State laws |
Rather than being seen as an unlicensed sport betting site in Florida, Kalshi is an official prediction market.
Sports Event Contracts Available on Kalshi in Florida
While Kalshi supports political and financial markets, sports remain one of its most active categories, with the platform offering sports event contracts on a wide range of outcomes.
Future sports contracts get plenty of attention on the app, such as the league champion, how many wins a team will record, and individual awards like MVP.
Kalshi markets also include specific games, with users able to trade contracts on how many points will be scored in a game, which team will win, and if a team will win by a specific number of points.
Florida Sports Teams You Can Trade on Kalshi
Thanks to Kalshi, Florida sports fans can buy and sell contracts on their favorite local teams and franchises.
- NFL: Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- NBA: Miami Heat and Orlando Magic.
- NHL: Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning
- MLB: Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins.
College basketball and college football predictions are also available with Kalshi, allowing Florida sports fans to trade contracts on popular college teams in the state like the Florida Gators, Miami Hurricanes, UCF Knights, and Florida State Seminoles.
Local Florida Market Examples
You can trade contracts for individual games on the winner, total amount of points, and how many points a team will win by. So, if the Miami Dolphins are hosting a game against the New York Jets with a projected winning margin of 3.5 and point total of 47.5, you can trade “Yes” contracts on the Dolphins to win by at least 3.5 points and “Yes” to the final total being over 47.5.
Kalshi also makes it possible to trade contracts on future sports events. That means you can trade contracts on the Florida Gators to win the college basketball championship or Bam Adebayo from the Miami Heat to win the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Regulated Election Trading vs. Sports Prediction Markets in Florida
In addition to sports contracts, Kalshi offers a variety of different election markets. That means you can predict the Super Bowl champion AND the winner of the next U.S. Presidential Election within the same app.
Other popular election markets include the Democratic and Republican nominees for the next Election and which party will be victorious. There are even contracts available for elections outside the country, meaning you can predict the next President of anywhere from Honduras to Turkey.
These unique markets are available thanks to Kalshi’s status as a Designated Contract Market. The CFTC oversees these markets, allowing for the legitimate trade of contracts predicting elections and other political outcomes along with sporting events.
Kalshi Florida Banking Experience
Available deposit methods:
- Debit card (Apple Pay and Google Pay supported)
- Bank transfer
- Crypto transfer
- Wire transfer
Important banking notes:
- Deposits are usually instant but may be delayed for security checks
- Deposits cannot be canceled once submitted
- Withdrawals typically take 30 minutes to three business days, depending on the method.
- Crypto withdrawals usually require a prior crypto deposit
RotoGrinders’ Expert Tips to Use Kalshi in Florida
Despite its status as a federally regulated prediction market, Kalshi has faced legal challenges and increased scrutiny in recent months from state regulators and sports betting operators. Critics argue that offering sports event contracts resembles sports betting and should fall under state gambling laws, like other legal betting apps, rather than federal regulation.
With states such as New Jersey and Nevada engaged in legal battles with Kalshi, the future of the prediction market site’s access to states like Florida, California, Texas, and beyond remains uncertain.
For now, Kalshi is still available to Florida users. If you’re using Kalshi in Florida, keep these expert tips in mind:
- Set a clear budget and only trade with money you can afford to lose
- Understand each contract and market outcome before entering a position
- Assess risk carefully, especially as prices fluctuate
- Avoid chasing losses or overtrading
- Monitor how prediction markets affect your finances, time, and decision-making
If you need support, call 1-800-GAMBLER or Florida’s helpline at 833-PLAYWISE.
Is Kalshi Legal in Florida? – FAQs
Kalshi’s legal status in Florida continues to raise questions as prediction markets grow. Below, we answer whether Kalshi is legal in Florida, how it fits under Florida laws, and what users should know about its availability.
Can Florida residents legally use Kalshi right now?
Yes, Florida residents can legally use Kalshi to make trade contracts. To sign up for Kalshi in Florida, you need to be at least 18 years old.
Is Kalshi legal in Florida if sports betting is restricted?
Yes. Kalshi is legal in Florida despite the state’s restrictions on sports betting because it operates as a prediction market, not a sportsbook.
Why isn’t Kalshi blocked like offshore sportsbooks in Florida?
Kalshi isn’t blocked in Florida because it’s regulated by the CFTC as a financial exchange, not as an offshore sportsbook under state gambling laws.
Does trading on Kalshi violate Florida gambling laws?
No, trading on Kalshi doesn’t violate gambling laws in Florida. That’s because Kalshi is a financial exchange and follows federal regulations instead of individual state laws.
Can Kalshi shut down in Florida in the future?
Kalshi could shut down in Florida in future if regulations regarding the prediction market change. In the meantime, Kalshi is fully legal in Florida and overseen by the CFTC.
For another way to get in on sports action in the Sunshine State, check out Underdog Florida.