Native American Tribes Partner With Kalshi for New Betting Apps

WHO:

CNN - Eric Wright, administrator for the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation.

CNN - Rebecca George, runs the Washington Indian Gaming Association.

CNN - Glen Gobin, sits on the tribal council of the Tulalip Tribes.

CNN - Robbie McGhee, vice chair of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

CNN - Michael Stopp, Cherokee businessman.

CNN - Marshall Pierite, chair of the Tunica-Biloxi tribe.

CNN - Tarek Mansour, co-founder of Kalshi.

CNN - James Siva, chair of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association.

CNN - Mike Selig, chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

WHAT:

NY Post - Four Native American tribes partnered with Kalshi to launch new gambling apps.

CNN - The Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation's prediction app aims to fund water projects.

CNN - The prediction market industry is claimed to threaten casinos that provide economic support to hundreds of tribes.

CNN - Kalshi is reportedly eyeing a $40 billion valuation, while Polymarket is valued at $20 billion.

CNN - Casinos operated by nearly 250 tribal governments generated record profits in 2025, with gross revenues surpassing $46.2 billion.

WHERE:

CNN - Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation is located in northern California.

CNN - The Tulalip Tribes reservation is in Washington state.

CNN - The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is the only federally recognized tribe in Alabama.

CNN - The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is located in Louisiana.

CNN - The Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town is in eastern Oklahoma.

WHEN:

CNN - The prediction apps were launched on a Wednesday.

CNN - A federal appeals court ruled in favor of two California tribes last month regarding sports markets.

CNN - A Wisconsin federal judge ruled in May regarding the Ho-Chunk Nation's case against Kalshi.

WHY:

CNN - Eric Wright stated that the revenue from the prediction app is essential for funding water projects on his reservation.

CNN - Rebecca George expressed concerns that the growth of prediction markets could threaten casino revenues that support basic infrastructure in Indian country.

CNN - Tribal leaders are lobbying for a ban on sports markets to protect their economic interests.

HOW:

CNN - Kalshi's prediction markets are structured as financial exchanges for trading, bypassing state gaming regulations.

CNN - The CFTC, led by Mike Selig, invited tribal leaders to discuss the regulation of prediction markets.

(UPDATED October 7, 2026 23:04 UTC)

Four Native American tribes have teamed up with Kalshi to launch new gambling apps, with the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation's app specifically aimed at funding vital water projects. Tribal leaders, including Eric Wright and Rebecca George, are raising concerns that the rise of prediction markets could jeopardize the casino revenues that support essential infrastructure in Indian country, prompting them to lobby for a ban on these sports markets. Meanwhile, Kalshi is looking to achieve a $40 billion valuation as it navigates the regulatory landscape, with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, led by Mike Selig, engaging in discussions with tribal leaders about the future of these prediction markets.