facebook-pixel

Utah AG Derek Brown warns gamblers as prediction markets halt operations in the state

DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics have restricted access to their prediction market platforms in Utah after the state filed charges against Kalshi.

(Trent Nelson  |  The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Attorney General Derek Brown in Salt Lake City on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Attorney General Derek Brown in Salt Lake City on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.

Just days after the state of Utah filed 14 criminal charges against the prediction market operator Kalshi and its co-founders, Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara, several prediction markets have ceased operations in the state.

The state filed charges against Kalshi on Oct. 28.

Later that day, DraftKings sent an email notice to consumers announcing it was ceasing operations in the state.

On Oct. 30, FanDuel Predicts followed suit, shutting down operations in Utah.

Meanwhile, Fanatics stopped all trading on its Fanatics Markets platform in Utah on Wednesday.

This comes just weeks after The Salt Lake Tribune reported that DraftKings and other prediction markets continued to operate in the state, despite Utah having completely banned all forms of gambling.

“Utah law is clear: gambling is illegal in our state,” said Utah Attorney General Derek Brown in a statement to The Tribune. “Some of the largest online gambling apps are now pulling out of Utah. I appreciate these companies being responsive to our efforts.

“It is the right outcome for Utah families who want gambling’s harms kept out of their homes and communities. We will continue to enforce Utah law against any company that brings gambling into Utah.”

So will the AG office go after customers of these apps?

“Gambling is illegal in Utah, and our office enforces that law. If you’re promoting, organizing, and profiting from gambling operations or gambling in Utah, we urge you to stop now. We reserve the right to enforce the law against anyone who violates it,” the Attorney General’s office told The Tribune in a statement.

Multiple attempts to reach DraftKings for comment were unsuccessful.

In an email to Utah consumers, DraftKings said: “Effective immediately, sports, novelty, political, and certain other event contracts are no longer available on DraftKings Predictions for customers physically located in Utah.

“You can continue to trade financial event contracts, including those related to stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrency. Any open positions you hold in the affected markets will remain open and settle as normal. You can still sell these positions before the settlement, but you cannot open new positions in these markets while physically located in Utah.”

In a statement to The Tribune, FanDuel said sports, political and novelty event contracts are no longer available to customers in Utah through FanDuel Predicts.

However, customers will still be able to trade on “economic benchmarks and key financial indicators. Any positions held by customers will remain open and settle as expected.”

Support free news for Utah

sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.

Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.

You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.