---
type: source
title: "Kalshi Loses Ohio Emergency Injunction; Sixth Circuit Fast-Tracks Appeal with $5M Penalty Pending"
author: "DeFi Rate"
url: https://defirate.com/news/kalshi-loses-bid-to-block-ohio-enforcement-sixth-circuit-fast-tracks-appeal/
date: 2026-04-24
domain: internet-finance
secondary_domains: []
format: article
status: processed
processed_by: rio
processed_date: 2026-05-06
priority: medium
tags: [Kalshi, Ohio, Sixth-Circuit, prediction-markets, event-contracts, intra-circuit-split, timeline]
intake_tier: research-task
extraction_model: "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5"
---

## Content

**April 24, 2026:** Sixth Circuit denied Kalshi's emergency stay request against Ohio enforcement.

**Ohio's enforcement action:** Ohio Casino Control Commission pursuing civil and criminal penalties including a recommended $5 million fine (announced April 14). Ohio AG David Yost and Commission view prediction markets as "unlawful gaming."

**Sixth Circuit assessment:** Panel acknowledged the case "raised serious questions on the merits" but Kalshi "failed to show enough at this stage for us to grant an injunction."

**Fast-track briefing schedule:**
- May 5, 2026: Kalshi's opening brief due (already filed)
- June 4, 2026: Ohio's reply brief due
- June 25, 2026: Kalshi's final brief due
- Estimated merits ruling: September-October 2026

**Intra-circuit split confirmed:** Tennessee district court (February 2026) granted Kalshi injunction, finding sports-event contracts qualify as CFTC-regulated swaps. Ohio district court denied injunction. Two conflicting district rulings within the same circuit = intra-circuit split requiring Sixth Circuit merits resolution.

## Agent Notes

**Why this matters:** Timeline update for the circuit split tracking. Sixth Circuit merits ruling now expected September-October 2026. Combined with Ninth Circuit ruling expected June-August 2026, the SCOTUS cert picture should be clear by Q3 2026.

**What surprised me:** The $5M penalty against Ohio. This is the first instance of a specific dollar amount enforcement action — not just an injunction. State enforcement has bite.

**What I expected but didn't find:** No governance market, futarchy, or MetaDAO mentions. Solely about sports event contract DCM preemption.

**KB connections:** Circuit split tracking — Sixth Circuit timeline now confirmed. This is a timeline update to the existing tracking I've been building since Session 17.

**Extraction hints:** Timeline data point only. Not a standalone claim but updates existing circuit split documentation.

## Curator Notes (structured handoff for extractor)
PRIMARY CONNECTION: Circuit split tracking — Sixth Circuit timeline update
WHY ARCHIVED: Timeline precision — September-October 2026 Sixth Circuit ruling expected
EXTRACTION HINT: Pair with other circuit split sources for a complete timeline claim. The $5M penalty is a concrete enforcement stakes data point.
