Kalshi Opens D.C. Office, Appoints Lobbyists to Tackle State Pushback

TLDR

• Kalshi has opened a new office in Washington, D.C. to expand its federal lobbying efforts.
• The company appointed John Bivona as its first head of federal government relations.
• Bivona previously served as a White House liaison at the Department of Homeland Security.
• Kalshi hired Blake Bee to lead its state-level policy efforts across key jurisdictions.
• Bee formerly managed state and local public policy at Amazon.

Prediction market platform Kalshi has launched a new office in Washington, D.C., to advance its lobbying efforts with U.S. lawmakers, appointing John Bivona to lead federal government relations and hiring Blake Bee for state-level policy engagement. The platform responds to growing regulatory scrutiny across several states.

Kalshi Strengthens Federal Ties With Strategic Hire

Kalshi has expanded its presence in Washington, D.C., to engage directly with U.S. federal policymakers and regulatory agencies. The company named John Bivona as its first head of federal government relations, according to a press release published this week.

Bivona previously served in the Biden administration as the first White House liaison at the Department of Homeland Security. He brings over 20 years of political strategy experience to Kalshi’s growing policy team.

Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour emphasized the move as part of a broader push for regulatory clarity and engagement.

He said, “We are committed to working with regulators to strengthen our platform’s compliance and public trust.”

The launch of the D.C. office underscores Kalshi’s efforts to build formal communication channels with lawmakers. It reflects the company’s increasing focus on maintaining its federal regulatory status and responding to market growth.

State-Level Enforcement Push Draws Company Focus

Kalshi has faced enforcement from several U.S. states over its sports contracts, raising legal concerns under gambling laws. Arizona, Tennessee, Connecticut, and Massachusetts have taken action, claiming unlicensed sports gambling activity.

In response, Kalshi appointed Blake Bee to oversee state policy and regulatory strategies in key jurisdictions. Bee previously worked as a senior manager for state and local public policy at Amazon, focusing on attorney general engagement.

The company is addressing state regulators’ concerns while continuing to operate under Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) oversight. Kalshi maintains that CFTC jurisdiction preempts state gambling laws for its prediction markets.

However, legal outcomes have differed across states, complicating Kalshi’s nationwide compliance approach. Courts in Nevada and Tennessee have issued conflicting rulings on enforcement authority.

In Nevada, a federal judge ordered Kalshi to comply with state gaming laws, rejecting the company’s federal preemption claim. Kalshi has appealed the decision, continuing legal proceedings into 2026.

Volume Growth Raises Platform Profile

Kalshi reported $6.58 billion in volume during December, making it the world’s largest prediction market by trading activity. By comparison, Polymarket recorded $2.28 billion over the same period.

Kalshi’s trading activity spiked in September 2025 following the launch of the U.S. National Football League season. The platform saw $441 million in trading within four days of the season’s start, according to Mansour.

The platform’s growth has attracted increased attention from state regulators, especially around its sports-related contracts. This has contributed to broader scrutiny of the prediction markets sector.

State authorities in some regions have expanded enforcement to include rival platforms Polymarket and Crypto.com. These developments highlight ongoing jurisdictional disputes between federal oversight and state gambling laws.

The company remains under CFTC regulation while navigating ongoing state-level legal challenges and appeals. Kalshi continues to expand its presence in both federal and state policy spheres through direct engagement and legal action.

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