A Louisiana judge has ordered Kalshi, Polymarket US, Robinhood and other operators to stop offering unauthorized event contracts to residents of the state, following a lawsuit by Attorney General Liz Murrill alleging illegal online gambling operations.
Judge Jeffrey Johnson of Louisiana’s 21st Judicial District Court signed the ex parte temporary restraining order at 3:48 p.m. local time on Nov. 12, according to an announcement from Murrill. The immediate consequence is that the named platforms cannot offer the covered contracts to Louisiana residents without state authorization.
Judge Johnson’s restraining order
The order is temporary and was issued ex parte, meaning it was signed at this initial stage without a prior adversarial hearing reflected in the supplied reporting. It applies to Kalshi, Polymarket US and Robinhood, as well as other operators covered by the action.
Louisiana’s action places a state-level restriction on platforms that offer contracts whose outcomes turn on real-world events. The order does not establish a final resolution of the state’s claims; that question will be addressed in the next phase of the case.
Geofencing applies to covered markets
The restrictions cover event contracts tied to sports, elections and awards. The companies must block Louisiana users through geofencing, RG.org reported.
That requirement focuses the order on access by customers located in Louisiana rather than on the platforms’ operations in other jurisdictions. The available reporting does not specify further technical requirements for the geofencing measures.
Murrill’s lawsuit alleges illegal gambling
The restraining order followed Murrill’s lawsuit filed Nov. 12. The attorney general alleged that the platforms were operating illegal online gambling businesses in violation of Louisiana law, according to WBRZ.
Those are allegations by the state, not findings on the merits. Johnson’s temporary order nevertheless gives Louisiana an immediate mechanism to prevent the offering of unauthorized covered contracts to residents while the litigation proceeds.
Order lasts 10 days; hearing set for Nov. 30
The temporary restraining order expires 10 days after it was issued unless it is extended. A preliminary-injunction hearing is scheduled for Nov. 30 at 9 a.m., UPI reported.
That hearing is the next concrete court date in the dispute and will determine whether the restrictions remain in place beyond the temporary order.
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