Nevada court grants injunction to block Polymarket after February ruling

A Nevada judge granted a preliminary injunction on April 26 to block Polymarket from operating in the state, upholding a February ruling that restricted the prediction market platform’s access. The decision follows ongoing legal battles as Nevada enforces strict gambling regulations against sports betting contracts.

A Nevada judge upheld a February decision by granting a preliminary injunction on April 26 to block Polymarket from operating within the state. The ruling enforces strict gambling regulations and supports the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s (NGCB) efforts to restrict prediction market platforms offering sports betting contracts.

Judge Jason D. Woodbury initially issued a temporary restraining order against Polymarket in February, which led to the company restricting access for Nevada users. The court’s latest decision affirms the NGCB’s position and allows the regulator to continue enforcing state gaming laws. NGCB Chairman Mike Dreitzer stated, “We are very pleased with Judge Woodbury’s ruling and will continue to vigorously enforce Nevada law to safeguard gaming in our state.”

Besides Polymarket, Nevada has blocked other platforms including Coinbase, Kalshi, and Crypto.com from offering sports event contracts. The NGCB emphasized the importance of licensed gaming to protect the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of state residents. While Nevada is a major market for physical casinos, its online gambling market remains smaller due to requirements that residents must register at a physical casino before wagering online.

Although losing access to Nevada customers is not significantly damaging for Polymarket, the ruling is expected to influence ongoing legal challenges in other states. Polymarket currently faces litigation in Wisconsin, Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island. Despite these challenges, the platform remains accessible to users in other states and offers a broad range of sports markets, including major esports events.

Casino Industry Opposition and Broader Impact

Prediction markets face strong opposition from the casino industry, which views them as a competitive threat. Leading casino companies such as Caesars and MGM, despite offering online betting, have expressed no intention to enter prediction markets. Nevada has warned licensed gambling businesses that collaboration with prediction market platforms could result in licensing consequences, prompting companies like DraftKings and FanDuel to withdraw from the state.

Lobbying efforts have intensified on both sides, with Kalshi accusing casino-backed groups of launching advertising campaigns against the company. In response to the original Nevada ruling, Polymarket affirmed its commitment to challenging the decision and indicated plans to reopen access once permitted. In addition to Nevada, Spain and Indonesia also blocked the platform recently. Polymarket is currently restricted in over 33 countries worldwide.