The CFTC sues the state of Rhode Island to maintain exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has disclosed that it has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island to prevent the state from applying its gambling laws to contract markets registered with the CFTC. CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig stated that exchanges registered with the CFTC are facing numerous lawsuits aimed at restricting Americans' participation in event contracts, which undermines the CFTC's exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets.

Selig emphasized that event contracts are commodity derivatives and fall entirely within the CFTC's regulatory scope. The CFTC is also facing similar jurisdictional challenges in states such as Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, and Minnesota. The CFTC stated that the Commodity Exchange Act grants it exclusive jurisdiction over event contracts.