Crypto.com and Novig Sue Missouri, Seek to Pause Enforcement of Sports Event Contract Ban
Odaily reports: Crypto.com's prediction market trading platform and Novig filed suit against Missouri officials in federal court last Friday, asking a judge to bar the state from taking enforcement action against their sports event contracts. Previously, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway sent cease-and-desist letters in September to six platforms, including both companies, requiring them to stop offering sports event contracts to state residents within 30 days or obtain a state license and pay a 10% tax. Crypto.com said the cease-and-desist letter was mistakenly sent to Foris DAX, Inc. rather than the trading platform itself; the Missouri Constitution only permits the issuance of two mobile sports prediction licenses, and both have already been granted, making obtaining a license unfeasible.
The two platforms argue that the Commodity Exchange Act grants the CFTC exclusive jurisdiction and preempts state law. Kalshi, Polymarket, Robinhood, and Underdog, which also received cease-and-desist letters in September, had not filed suit in Missouri federal court as of Sunday. Because multiple U.S. federal appellate courts are divided on whether federal law preempts state regulation, Novig has asked the court to issue a preliminary injunction during the litigation to maintain the status quo.

