Kalshi spent $800,000 on federal lobbying in the third quarter of 2026, according to its own lobbying report filed with Congress on 20 October. That is its biggest quarter since the company registered to lobby in-house in July 2025: 60% more than the $500,000 it reported for April to June, and about four times the $190,000 for the same quarter of 2025.
What Kalshi lobbied on
The report lists the Prediction Markets Act of 2026 (S 4469), the Protect College Sports Act (S 4668), the Senate’s FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (S 4784), “the purchase of events contracts by government employees”, the sale and regulation of sports-related contracts, and the CFTC’s rule proposal on event contracts. Kalshi’s lobbyists contacted the House, the Senate, the CFTC and the Executive Office of the President, plus the SEC on commodities issues.
Six people lobbied for the company in-house, led by Sara Slane, who signed the filing. Several list recent government jobs: two worked as Senate or House floor and leadership staff until 2026, one of them also at the White House, and another was chief of staff to Rep. Josh Gottheimer in 2023–24.
Polymarket stays flat
Polymarket’s federal lobbying looks small by comparison. Its outside firm, Advocus Partners, reported $90,000 in income from Polymarket’s parent Blockratize in each of the first three quarters of 2026, according to the Lobbying Disclosure Act database. Kalshi also pays several outside firms; the self-filed $800,000 is the figure to use, because adding the firms’ reported fees on top would likely count the same money twice.
Key facts
Filer: Kalshi Inc., self-filed LD-2, Q3 2026, signed 20 Oct 2026.
Q3 2026 spend: $800,000 (Q2: $500,000; Q1 as amended: $490,000).
2026 so far: $1.79m over three quarters.
Bills named: S 4469, S 4668, S 4784.
Polymarket: $90,000 per quarter via Advocus Partners.
Why it matters for GambleFi
The jump came in a quarter when states stepped up pressure on prediction markets and the CFTC began writing rules for event contracts. New York is asking a court to enforce its Kalshi subpoenas, lawmakers are pressing Kalshi and Polymarket on VIP perks, and the Pentagon has barred staff from insider prediction bets, the same topic Kalshi lobbied on through the defence bill. Federal rules for event contracts will shape where onchain betting exchanges such as SX Bet and other iGaming token projects can operate. Our GambleFi FAQ covers the basics. This is a news report, not legal, financial or gambling advice.