Docket Watch — track the regulator war, filing by filing

24Apr

SDNY · Federal Complaint · Declaratory Judgment Filed 1:26-cv-03182

CFTC v. State of New York, et al.

Federal regulator sues a state to stop it from suing CFTC-registered prediction-market operators. Claims CEA preemption over state gambling-law enforcement against Coinbase Financial Markets, Gemini Titan, Kalshi, Polymarket.

★ The federal preemption door, kicked open. If this lands, every state AG case dies on the merits.

21Apr

NY Sup · State Complaint · Civil Penalties Active Index 451292/26

People of NY v. Coinbase Financial Markets

NY AG Letitia James files complaint alleging unlicensed sports-event contracts violate NY gaming law. Seeks restitution + injunction. Three days later, CFTC counter-files in SDNY (above) — the trigger.

★ The complaint that produced the federal counter. State action → preemption suit cycle, week one.

23Apr

N.D.Ill · Federal Motion · Preliminary Injunction Pending 1:26-cv-04421

CFTC v. Illinois Gaming Board

CFTC moves to enjoin IL Gaming Board's cease-and-desist letters against three exchanges. Same theory as the SDNY filing: state action targeting CFTC registrants is preempted on its face.

★ Test bench #2. If two circuits split, this fast-tracks to SCOTUS by Q3.

22Apr

D.Conn · Federal Complaint · Declaratory Judgment Filed 3:26-cv-00738

CFTC v. Connecticut Attorney General

CFTC files third in a four-state offensive. CT AG had issued no-action letter to Polymarket; CFTC seeks declaratory judgment that letter is preempted.

★ Same pattern. Same statute. CFTC is litigating the doctrine, not the cases.

15Apr

D.Ariz · Federal Order · TRO Granted TRO 2:26-cv-00891

CFTC v. State of Arizona

First win. Judge Logan grants 14-day TRO halting AZ AG action against three exchanges; preliminary-injunction hearing set 2026-04-29. Order cites Kalshi v. CFTC (D.D.C. 2024) on agency exclusive jurisdiction.

★ The precedent the next four CFTC complaints all cite. Arizona is the doctrine.

12Apr

AZ Sup · State Cease-and-Desist Stayed by TRO CR-2026-0432

Arizona AG v. Polymarket Operations Ltd.

AZ AG issues C&D against Polymarket sports-event contracts under AZ Rev. Stat. § 13-3301. Stayed three days later by D.Ariz TRO above. The state action that started the federal counter-offensive.

★ Patient-zero filing for the 2026 wave.

08Apr

CFTC · Agency No-Action Letter Active CFTC NAL 26-04

In re KalshiEX LLC — Election Contracts

Chair Selig issues NAL re-affirming exclusive CFTC jurisdiction over event contracts post-Kalshi v. CFTC. Cited verbatim in all four state-prempemption complaints (NY, AZ, CT, IL).

★ The administrative ammunition. This NAL is exhibit A in every CFTC brief filed since.

06Apr

D.D.C. · Federal Brief · Amicus Active 1:24-cv-03205

Coinbase Inc. v. SEC (Polymarket Acquisition Review)

DOJ Antitrust Division files amicus opposing SEC second-look on Coinbase-Polymarket integration. Argues post-Kalshi event contracts are CEA-exclusive, not securities.

★ Federal agencies aren't even aligned with each other. Watch DOJ vs SEC sub-fight.

02Apr

CT AG · State Cease-and-Desist Stayed CT-AG-26-117

Connecticut AG v. Polymarket

CT AG demands Polymarket halt operations to CT residents within 30 days. CFTC files declaratory-judgment counter on day 20 (above).

★ Two of four states matched the AZ pattern within 21 days.

the regulators are at war.

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