Is Kalshi legal in California? Yes, Kalshi is available in California, and new users can claim $55 in bonus trading credits with the Kalshi California promo code CBSSPORTS55. Since Kalshi operates as a prediction market regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), it can offer sports event contract markets for today's NHL and college basketball games. Sign up with the Kalshi promo code here:
Kalshi Welcome Offer | |
Kalshi Promo Code | |
Minimum Deposit | $10 |
| Available States* | Available nationwide for new users to sign-up AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY. |
Promo Eligibility | New users physically located in a state where Kalshi prediction markets operate who complete the sign-up and identity verification process |
Legal Age | 18+ |
Key Terms | Must trade $25 on Prediction Markets within 7 days of account opening. Trading Credit expires after 7 days. |
Last Verified | November 3, 2026 |
*Sports contracts currently unavailable in MI, NV and WA
For the full terms and conditions and how to claim the promo, read our Kalshi promo code review. Here are the key terms:
- New users will be awarded a sign-up bonus of $55 in trading credits once they click the CLAIM BONUS button on this page and use the CBSSPORTS55 promo code to sign up and place at least $25 in trades on Kalshi.
- The $25 in trades required must be completed within the first seven days of account sign-up.
- Bonus trading credits expire after seven days.
- Bonus trading credits cannot be withdrawn.
- The full bonus amount must be used to place event contract trades before any profit can be withdrawn.
- Open the rewards section in the app to review your specific terms, including trading requirements and expiration dates.
Is Kalshi Legal in California?
Yes, Kalshi is operating in California under the licensing and regulatory oversight of the CFTC, an agency of the U.S. federal government. That allows the event contract exchange to offer markets on sports, culture, politics, weather and more.
The distinction is especially relevant in California because the state has no legal sports betting. Tribal gaming compacts give California tribes an effective veto over any commercial gambling expansion, and every ballot initiative to legalize sports betting in the state, including Prop 26 and Prop 27 in 2022, has failed at the polls. There is no state-licensed sportsbook framework, and none is expected before 2028.
Kalshi exists entirely outside the state-licensing framework because it isn't a sportsbook. It's a CFTC-licensed exchange, regulated federally the same way commodity and futures exchanges are, and California law doesn't prohibit it.
Californians can sign up, deposit, and trade today. Kalshi is one of several California prediction markets available.
Last updated: November 3, 2026.
Kalshi Prediction Market California: Which Markets Can You Trade?
Kalshi offers a range of sports contracts available to California traders. Kalshi lists contracts on every major league with a California team, including the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers in the NFL, as well as games and futures in the NBA and MLB. In Kalshi markets you can find sports events like the NBA Finals, World Series and Kalshi Super Bowl prices. During the college football season, USC and UCLA markets are also available.
NFL prediction markets cover the Rams, Chargers, and 49ers, with contracts for individual games, season-long results, and player outcomes.
Featured Kalshi market today: Stars vs. Capitals
Two of the best teams in the NHL when the Dallas Stars visit the Washington Capitals on Tuesday evening. Here are the latest prices trading on Kalshi as of Tuesday morning:
- DAL Stars: Yes (51%)
- WSH Capitals: Yes (51%)
Content is promotional and not a recommendation to trade. Pricing may not update in real-time.
How Kalshi works
How do prediction markets work? Let's use a sports example to explain.
Markets are structured as Yes/No contracts. For example, "Will the 49ers win?", with prices reflecting the implied probability of each outcome. For example, if a YES contract on the 49ers beating the Rams costs $0.37 and the 49ers win, each event contract pays out at $1 per contract, for a potential profit of $0.63 per contract. However, if the 49ers lose, then the full $0.37 per event contract is lost.
Trading is in real time, and prices shift as the game approaches and as results develop. Claim your welcome bonus and start trading on California teams here:
How to Use the Kalshi California Promo Code
Signing up for Kalshi in California follows the platform's standard verification process.
- Be 18+ and have a legal, U.S. residential address within a state where Kalshi operates.
- Tap the CLAIM BONUS button on this page and use Kalshi California promo code CBSSPORTS55.
- Download the Kalshi app.
- Create an account with your email address, and complete identity verification. You will need to provide your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number. Kalshi uses this information to comply with federal KYC requirements. Verification typically completes within minutes.
- Once verified, be sure to add the promo code before linking a payment method and depositing at least $10 to activate your account. Complete $25 in trades to unlock the welcome bonus.
Kalshi's payment options include online bank transfers, debit cards, PayPal, and Venmo, similar to other prediction market payment methods.
To claim Kalshi's welcome bonus, you must be 18 or older with a legal U.S. residential address in a state where Kalshi operates, complete the compliance check, and have an account in good standing. The Kalshi promo code CBSSPORTS55 must be submitted within three days of account creation if you didn't provide it earlier during the sign-up process. It also must be entered before the initial $10 deposit is made.
Trade at least $25 on Kalshi Prediction Markets within seven days of opening a new account and get $55 in bonus trading credits. Trades must be priced between $0.03 and $0.97 per contract to qualify. Users cannot trade on sports contracts in NV, MI & WA.
The $55 bonus trading credits must be used for trades on Kalshi event contracts and cannot be withdrawn or transferred. Participants can only withdraw profits from trades made on Kalshi. Profits from the $55 bonus credits may only be withdrawn after you have traded an amount equal to the full bonus.
Any bonus trading credits must be used within seven days of being credited to your account. Bonus trading credits not used in that span will be forfeited. For more information, visit kalshi.com/tc/55.
Responsible Trading
Kalshi offers various responsible trading tools for traders that can be used at any time. Available resources in the Kalshi Responsible Trading Hub include:
- Trading breaks
- Voluntary self-exclusion
- Personalized funding cap
Find these Responsible Trading Hub resources in the Responsible Risk Management section of your account.
FAQ
Is Kalshi legal in California?
Yes, Kalshi is available and operating in California. It is licensed as a CFTC-regulated prediction market and does not require state authorization to serve California residents. Among its offerings are sports event contracts. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is an agency of the federal government.
Does Kalshi require California residents to verify identity differently than other states?
No. The identity verification process for Kalshi is the same for all U.S. residents. California traders go through the same account authentication flow: name, address, date of birth, and SSN, as users in other states.
Is Kalshi's welcome bonus available to California residents?
Yes. The Kalshi welcome bonus is available to California residents who sign up with the Kalshi promo code CBSSPORTS55. New users can complete $25 in trades to claim $55 in bonus trading credits.
What happens to my Kalshi account if California's legal status changes?
We don't expect any shift that would instantly legalize or ban all prediction markets in California, but regulatory changes could affect which contracts are available. The exact outcome would depend on how relevant legal challenges develop in courts throughout the state.
Event contracts trading involves a risk of substantial loss and is not suitable for all investors. Participation in prediction markets is subject to applicable eligibility requirements. Participation may be restricted or prohibited in certain jurisdictions and participants are responsible for ensuring their participation complies with applicable laws and regulations in their jurisdiction. Prediction markets content is not intended for individuals located in jurisdictions where they are prohibited. Additional help and resources are available through the NCPG's Financial Trader Health and Safety Initiative.
