A federal judge in Utah ruled that state gambling laws override federal commodity regulations for prediction markets, creating a legal divide in the United States. The decision coincides with several international operators adjusting their licensing and tax strategies across Europe and the Americas.
The Utah ruling directly contradicts a Minnesota court decision issued the previous week, leaving federal courts divided on whether the Commodity Exchange Act preempts state gambling statutes. This legal uncertainty affects platforms such as Kalshi. Meanwhile, Flutter Group is expanding its prediction market operations by transferring FanDuel Predicts contracts to the Crypto.com exchange, despite reporting a decline in second-quarter earnings.
International Licensing Developments
Regulatory changes are also taking effect in other jurisdictions. Romania implemented a tiered tax on customer winnings on 1 August as part of a fiscal package aimed at reducing the national budget deficit. In the Netherlands, Holland Casino Online secured a five-year license extension effective 1 October. New Zealand’s Super Group plans to bid for three of the fifteen available online licenses, the maximum permitted per operator, ahead of the market launch in 2027.Jamaica’s Casino Gaming Commission recently issued the country’s first casino license, with at least three additional resort projects preparing for approval. These developments follow an industry shift toward additional gaming licenses and regional market expansions.