Kalshi Faces $54M Lawsuit Over Iran Bet Payout Dispute
Prediction market platform Kalshi is embroiled in a legal battle after refusing to honor $54 million in contracts tied to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death. Traders allege the US-regulated platform invoked a "death carveout" clause to avoid payouts following Khamenei's assassination in a joint US-Israeli strike.
The class-action lawsuit, filed in California federal court, centers on a contract speculating whether Khamenei would leave office before March 2026. Plaintiffs contend the outcome became binary upon his death, while Kalshi maintains the event nullified the contract. The dispute highlights escalating US-Iran tensions, with American naval forces positioned near Iranian waters.