Tribe v. operator
Mescalero Apache Tribe, et al. v. Kalshi, Inc., et al.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, 2:26-cv-01517 (filed as 1:26-cv-01517)
Pending
Pending before Judge Margaret I. Strickland. Kalshi moved to dismiss on June 24, 2026, and the tribes moved for a preliminary injunction barring Kalshi's sports contracts within their boundaries. Briefing on both motions closed with the tribes' Sept. 4, 2026 brief. No ruling on either motion had been reported as of Oct. 21, 2026.
The question
Whether Kalshi's internet sports event contracts offered to people on the Tribes' Indian lands are class III gaming not authorized by IGRA, the Tribes' gaming compacts and their gaming ordinances.
The Mescalero Apache Tribe and the Pueblos of Isleta, Pojoaque and Sandia sued Kalshi, Inc. and KalshiEX, LLC in the District of New Mexico on May 12, 2026. Each tribe pleads one count alleging that Kalshi's sports contracts, offered to people on its lands, are class III gaming not authorized under IGRA, its compact with the state and its own gaming laws, and the tribes say Kalshi could have geofenced their lands. They seek a declaration, preliminary and permanent injunctions, tribal civil penalties (except Sandia) and ordinance damages. Kalshi moved to dismiss in June 2026, arguing among other things that the tribes waited too long and have not shown irreparable harm, and that geofencing is costly and at odds with its impartial-access obligations. Briefing on that motion and the tribes' preliminary-injunction motion closed on Sept. 4, 2026, and Judge Margaret Strickland had not ruled as of Oct. 21, 2026.
Docket timeline
The tribes filed a 19-page brief supporting their preliminary-injunction motion and answering Kalshi's motion to dismiss; it was the last filing due before the court could rule on the injunction request.
Source: sourcenm.com
Kalshi, Inc. and KalshiEX, LLC moved to dismiss the complaint.
Source: dockets.justia.com
The case was reassigned to District Judge Margaret I. Strickland as trial judge, and the docket's division code changed to Las Cruces (2:26-cv-01517).
Source: dockets.justia.com
The Mescalero Apache Tribe and the Pueblos of Isleta, Pojoaque and Sandia filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief and civil penalties against Kalshi, Inc. and KalshiEX, LLC in the District of New Mexico (No. 1:26-cv-01517).
Source: turtletalk.blog