# Russell Coleman **Russell Coleman** is Kentucky's Republican attorney general, sworn in January 1, 2024. He is a former FBI agent and was [[Donald Trump]]'s U.S. attorney for the Western District of Kentucky (2017–2021). He is a **Republican** attorney general who took on the prediction-market industry directly, and that put him in court against the Trump administration's [[CFTC]]. ## The Kentucky fight (June 2026) | Date | Move | |---|---| | 2026 session | Kentucky enacts **House Bill 757**, a 14.25% excise tax on prediction-market transactions | | Jun 12 | A group representing Kalshi and Polymarket, the Coalition for Fair Markets, sues in Franklin Circuit Court, calling the tax unconstitutional and discriminatory (horse-race bets are taxed at 9.75%) | | Jun 17 | Coleman files three suits: against [[Kalshi]] and its partner [[Coinbase]]; against [[Polymarket]] and affiliates including [[Robinhood]] and Webull; and against VGW, a sweepstakes-casino operator | | Jun 23–24 | The CFTC sues Kentucky in federal court (E.D. Ky.) to block the state's enforcement | Coleman: "Kalshi and Polymarket are operating illegal sportsbooks in Kentucky and breaking our laws." And: "These multi-billion dollar corporations and their legal fictions don't pass the sniff test." The state alleges that **89% of Kalshi's $23 billion** in contract volume is sports wagering, and that Polymarket's advertising falsely claims it can offer sports betting in Kentucky. He also cites the platforms' lack of problem-gambling resources, which state law requires. ## Why it matters The prediction-market fight is often framed as blue states against a Trump agency. Coleman doesn't fit that frame: a Trump-appointed former U.S. attorney is defending his state's gambling laws and tax against a Trump-appointed CFTC chair. It splits along **states' rights versus federal preemption**, not party. See [[CFTC v. Arizona]] and [[Sports Betting]]. ## See also - [[CFTC v. Arizona]] · [[Kalshi]] · [[Polymarket]] · [[Coinbase]] · [[Robinhood]] · [[Sports Betting]]