Melissa Blanco-Sandman Discusses Potential Supreme Court Review of Sports Prediction Markets in Bloomberg Law

In an October 6, 2026 Bloomberg Law article titled “Illinois Prediction Market Ruling Deepens High Court Urgency,” Obermayer appellate attorney Melissa Blanco-Sandman discussed the growing possibility of US Supreme Court review of the legal dispute over sports prediction markets. The article examines an Illinois federal court’s decision granting Kalshi Inc., Coinbase Global Inc., and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission preliminary relief from certain state licensing restrictions, amid conflicting court rulings on whether sports event contracts are federally regulated derivatives or gambling subject to state laws.

Melissa noted that the growing number of decisions and extensive briefing across the country, coupled with the limited factual issues involved, could prompt the Supreme Court to consider the dispute.

“But the sheer amount of briefing being refined in suits across the country, a growing number of decisions, and the fact that the dispute doesn’t seem to carry a ton of factual issues might sway the high court to look soon, said Melissa.”

Read the full article here.