Reading list: Pooly Martina book
Local tech firms are paying attention as well. Companies that focus on identity verification, fraud detection and automated compliance say the Kalshi case is already influencing their clients. If the state draws a clear line around event-based wagering, operators will need new tools to sort transactions and identify risk signals that don’t fit neatly into older systems. A few Boston companies say they’ve already started rewriting parts of their software on the assumption that the rules will tighten rather than loosen.

Consumer-protection groups have backed the Commission’s stance. Their concern is that platforms presenting bet-like products without the surrounding safeguards give users a false sense of security. Someone placing a prediction on an unregulated app may assume they have the same protections they would get from a licensed sportsbook. Advocates argue that innovation is welcome, but the risks should be spelled out plainly, not hidden behind marketing language.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has scheduled hearings that will determine how the state moves forward. Officials insist they aren’t trying to shut down new ideas, but they don’t want companies sliding into the gambling space without taking on the responsibilities that brick-and-mortar and licensed online operators already shoulder. What they want is consistency and a ruleset that can expand as the tech evolves.