Utah Files 14-Count Gambling Case Naming Kalshi Founders

Utah filed a 14-count criminal information on Oct. 28 naming KalshiEX LLC and co-founders Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara, escalating a dispute over whether the platform’s sports contracts fall under state gambling laws or federal commodities oversight.

The charge sheet accuses KalshiEX of a second-degree felony pattern-of-unlawful-activity offense, 12 third-degree felonies tied to online gambling promotion, and a Class A misdemeanor for general gambling promotion. The numbered counts name KalshiEX LLC as the defendant; Mansour and Lopes Lara are listed as co-defendants. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Utah’s probable-cause declaration alleges that an undercover state agent placed 12 wagers on Kalshi between Sept. 13 and Sept. 24. The wagers totaled $114.87, with $3.36 in transaction fees. The agent’s net loss was $25.10.

The case comes amid a broader fight over regulatory authority: on Oct. 27, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced it had sued Utah to block state enforcement against federally registered contract markets.