Gambling Regulation Roundup: Louisiana Blocks Prediction Markets, CFTC Sues and More

This roundup covers gambling regulation developments from 12 to 16 November 2026. A Louisiana judge has issued a temporary restraining order against prediction market operators, and the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has sued Louisiana and Arkansas. Vietnam has brought a new security decree into force, and Bulgaria’s government has approved a bill for a complete gambling advertising ban that has not yet become law.

United States: Louisiana and the CFTC

On Thursday 12 November 2026 Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed a civil enforcement lawsuit against prediction market operators. The same day, District Judge Jeffrey Johnson of the 21st Judicial District Court in Tangipahoa Parish signed an ex parte temporary restraining order, meaning the operators were not heard first.

The order covers 31 corporate entities across 10 parent operators, according to the Shreveport-Bossier Journal, including Kalshi, Polymarket’s US entity, Novig, Robinhood, Coinbase and Crypto.com. It requires them to stop offering “event contracts” to anyone in Louisiana without a state gaming licence, to geofence the state, and not to advertise their offerings as lawful there. It remains in effect for 10 days unless extended, and Johnson set a preliminary injunction hearing for 30 November 2026. WBRZ also reported the order. Murrill said: “It’s not complicated: if you aren’t a licensed gaming operator, you aren’t legal.”

Kalshi sued Louisiana officials in federal court on 23 October and on 12 November filed an emergency motion in the US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. No federal ruling had been reported at the time of writing.

On Friday 13 November the CFTC announced two lawsuits. In release 9325-26 it said it was suing Arkansas to block the state’s attempts to halt event-contract trading. Arkansas is pursuing a civil enforcement action against Kalshi in state court, filed on 4 November. The CFTC said Arkansas is the 11th state it has sued.

In release 9326-26 the commission said it was suing Louisiana, the 12th state, and that the state court order was issued “without giving the defendants notice or an opportunity to be heard”. Chairman Michael Selig called Louisiana’s action “naked lawfare and a cynical political stunt”.

CND covered a separate prediction market ruling in New York in its 12 November roundup. See CND’s guide to US gambling laws.

Vietnam

Decree 392/2026/ND-CP, issued on 20 October 2026, came into force on 15 November. It amends decrees on conditions for businesses regulated for security and order, chiefly Decree 96/2016/ND-CP. According to the LuatVietnam legal database, it lists prize-winning games, casino and betting among conditional businesses, which must also have a plan to ensure security and order.

These businesses must now check a customer’s personal information on the national digital identity app VNeID or on identity papers, and record it in the management register. Previously they had to check identity papers, record the details and keep a copy.

A second decree covers penalties. Decree 391/2026/ND-CP, also dated 20 October, sets administrative penalties for betting and prize-winning games business. Nhan Dan reports that it takes effect on 5 December 2026, with maximum fines of VND 200 million for organisations and VND 100 million for individuals. See CND’s guide to gambling laws in Vietnam.

Bulgaria

On 11 November 2026 the Council of Ministers approved amendments to the Gambling Act and sent them to the National Assembly the same day, according to The Sofia Globe. The bill, which Parliament has not yet adopted, would ban advertising of gambling games entirely. Trademarks could be used only in sponsorship of sports clubs, federations and organisations and in support of culture, healthcare and education. It would also end affiliate licensing and set a minimum of EUR 100,000 a month as the variable part of the state fee for an online betting licence.

CasinoBeats reports that Parliament’s Budget and Finance Committee unanimously backed the bill and agreed to form a working group to revise it with two other bills before first and second readings. No plenary date has been set. Parliament rejected a similar blanket advertising ban in July 2026. See CND’s guide to gambling laws in Bulgaria.

Still pending

Argentina: the online betting and gambling-addiction bill, half-approved by the Chamber of Deputies in November 2024, still had no Senate committee report as of 15 November. El Argentino Diario reports that it loses parliamentary status if not passed by 30 November 2026. See CND’s guide to gambling laws in Argentina.

Italy: the deadline for amendments to the 2027 budget bill in the Chamber’s Budget Committee is 18:00 on 17 November. According to Italian Gaming News, the bill raises the PREU tax on VLTs from 8.6% to 9.6% and extends concessions to the end of 2029. See CND’s guide to gambling laws in Italy.