No Sports Betting in Texas? Welcome to the First World Cup of the Sports Prediction Market Era

Gaming and regulatory attorney Johnny ElHachem was cited in an article published by The Dallas Morning News examining the rise of sports prediction markets ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and unsettled legal questions surrounding their use in states where sports betting remains illegal, including Texas. The article explored the growing popularity of platforms such as Kalshi, Polymarket, DraftKings and FanDuel, ongoing clashes between federal and state regulators and the likelihood that the issue will ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. ElHachem commented that courts continue to wrestle with whether these event contracts are legitimate financial instruments or simply sports betting by another name.

"The debate is far from over. I really think this is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. For Texans, the legal ground beneath your feet is moving, and what is permissible today may be prohibited tomorrow, or the other way around," he said.

READ: No Sports Betting in Texas? Welcome to the First World Cup of the Sports Prediction Market Era