Australian push to open Kalshi and Polymarket adds fifth international regulatory front
Kalshi and Polymarket are targets of a push to open their platforms to Australian users, reported May 27, 2026, though specific regulatory pathways and involved parties remain unclear. The same day, a Bloomberg report found both platforms outperform traditional polls on high-profile races but are less reliable in down-ballot contests. Reuters separately reported that Kalshi is making a broader push to attract institutional investors and hedge funds as a next growth phase, without disclosed deal terms or committed capital. The developments come as prediction markets face mounting legal pressure, including national controversy, lawsuits, and new legislation aimed at restricting them.
Kalshi and Polymarket must now navigate Australian gambling licensing while simultaneously defending CFTC preemption in Spain, India, Malta, and Japan. Any Australian ruling that rejects federal preemption would supply a second Anglo-common-law template for courts and regulators in that expanding front.
Joins Spain, India, Malta, and Japan in the running international-regulatory fight over Kalshi and Polymarket's licensing status, making Australia the fifth jurisdiction this year to formally scrutinize whether CFTC registration shields the platforms from local gambling law.