According to The Block, North Carolina enacted legislation on July 7, 2026 when Governor Josh Stein signed Senate Bill 257 as part of the state's 2026 budget bill. The law explicitly recognizes the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's exclusive federal regulatory authority over prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi, allowing them to operate lawfully in the state upon CFTC registration.
Under the new law, effective January 1, 2027, prediction market platforms will be taxed at 6% of their net trading fee revenue attributable to North Carolina residents. This tax rate is significantly lower than the state's 23% tax on sports betting operators' gross wagering revenue.