Kalshi Establishes Washington Office to Enhance Lobbying Efforts

Prediction markets platform Kalshi has launched a new office in Washington, D.C., aiming to strengthen its influence on federal and state policy amid increasing scrutiny of its products throughout the United States.

Key Takeaways

Kalshi has opened an office in Washington and appointed experienced policy experts to enhance collaborations with federal and state regulators.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)-regulated platform leads in prediction markets with a monthly trading volume of $6.58 billion.
Several state regulators are challenging Kalshi’s sports-related contracts.

In a recent announcement, Kalshi appointed John Bivona as its first head of federal government relations. Bivona is a seasoned political strategist with over 20 years of experience across political campaigns and federal agencies, including serving as the first White House liaison at the Department of Homeland Security during the Biden administration. Previously, he worked as the chief of staff for former New York Congressman Antonio Delgado and held significant roles at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Kalshi Opens Washington Office to Step Up US Lobbying Efforts

Kalshi’s Commitment to Policy Engagement as Prediction Markets Expand

Kalshi's new office symbolizes its commitment to engage more proactively with policymakers as the popularity of prediction markets increases. The platform is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and allows users to trade contracts linked to the outcomes of future events, including elections, economic data, and sports.

To bolster its outreach at the state level, Kalshi also welcomed Blake Bee, who has a background as a senior manager of state and local public policy at Amazon. Bee has extensive experience working alongside state attorneys general and has spent years at the National Association of Attorneys General, as well as in the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.

Kalshi now ranks as the world’s largest prediction market by monthly trading volume. In December, the company reported an impressive $6.58 billion in trading volume, significantly surpassing its rival Polymarket, which recorded $2.28 billion during the same period. Trading activity surged last fall, aligning with the start of the NFL season, where CEO Tarek Mansour noted that the platform processed about $441 million in trading volume in just the first four days following kickoff.

However, even with rapid growth and federal licensing, Kalshi faces challenges from several U.S. states regarding its sports-related contracts. States such as Arizona, Tennessee, Connecticut, and Massachusetts have claimed that these offerings lack appropriate licensing for sports betting under state laws.

Mixed rulings have emerged; a federal judge in Nevada mandated that Kalshi adhere to the state’s gaming regulations, dismissing the firm's argument that CFTC oversight takes precedence over state law. Kalshi is currently appealing this decision. In contrast, a judge in Tennessee has temporarily blocked state officials from halting the platform’s sports contracts.

Growing Opposition from States Due to Consumer Protection Concerns

Opposition from various states against prediction markets has been intensifying. In 2025, the SWC called on the CFTC to ban sports event contracts, asserting that they circumvent state protections, such as age verification, responsible gaming measures, and anti-money laundering regulations.

Recent reports indicate that more than 30 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, are backing proposed legislation to regulate the interactions between government officials and prediction markets. This new push for restrictions is partly driven by a controversial Polymarket bet that began at $32,000 but escalated to over $400,000 just before the unexpected detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The proposed legislation by New York Representative Ritchie Torres is termed the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026.