Predict 2026 says it moved to New York from Las Vegas due to “regulatory pressure” from the Nevada Gaming Control Board. A spokesman for the regulator claims otherwise.
“The Nevada Gaming Control Board did not direct, request or otherwise pressure any licensee or venue to cancel or refuse to host any recent or upcoming event or conference, as has been suggested,” a spokesperson told CoinDesk.
Earlier this month, the Prediction Conference, featuring some of Polymarket’s top traders, took place in Las Vegas, but in a hotel without a casino.
“We had a successful event last month attended by several interested parties and we will be hosting a second edition in November again in Las Vegas,” founder Ish Milly told CoinDesk. “Our place is off the Strip and not in a casino.”
A spokesperson for Nevada’s gaming regulator also told CoinDesk that “gaming licensees are expected to comply with all federal, state and local statutes and ordinances and avoid any occurrence that could bring the state or the gaming industry into disrepute.”
Nevada is one of the states that is locked in a legal battle with the prediction market industry.
In April, a state judge ruled that Kalshi’s prediction markets were “indistinguishable” from gambling and ordered that the state’s ban on the platform be extended.
Recently, Michael Selig, chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, told Axios that sports betting and prediction markets are “two separate things.” Selig also said the CFTC is working with major sports leagues on market surveillance and other market integrity measures.
