New bill would ban lawmakers, their families from betting on prediction markets

A new bill would ban lawmakers in Congress from placing bets on prediction markets related to public policy issues and elections that they could be in a position to profit from by using insider information.

The Stop Lawmakers From Predicting Act was introduced Thursday by House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil, R-Wis., which would ban members of Congress as well as their spouses and dependent children from placing a wager on a prediction market on topics that the lawmaker may have inside information on.

The ban would cover wagers on the occurrence, nonoccurence or the extent of the occurrence of specific government policies and actions, a political outcome or any other event which came to the attention of a covered individual as a direct or indirect result of the lawmaker's service in Congress.

"The American people deserve to know their Member of Congress is not profiting off insider information," Steil said. "This legislation is critical to restoring the public's trust in their elected officials. Lawmakers should be writing policy, not wagering on its outcome."

SENATE QUIETLY BANS LAWMAKERS FROM BETTING ON PREDICTION MARKETS

Steil's bill would punish violators of the law precluding lawmakers from placing political and policy wagers on prediction markets with a fee equal to $2,000 or 10% of the value of the prohibited transaction, whichever is greater, and the net gain from the transaction.

The bill would also prohibit lawmakers from using their Members' Representational Allowance, Senate personnel and office expense account, or political contributions or donations to pay the fine.

Lawmakers who resign from office or retire without paying the fine could be referred to the Justice Department for civil enforcement if the bill were to become law.

BLOCKCHAIN ANALYSTS SAY TRADERS MAY HAVE USED INSIDER INFORMATION TO PROFIT ON IRAN CONFLICT BETS

Steil's introduction of the prediction market ban for lawmakers comes after his panel, the Committee on House Administration, advanced the Stop Insider Trading Act to the House floor in January, which focused on insider trading in the stock market.

It also follows an incident in March in which blockchain analysts identified suspected insiders who placed suspiciously timed bets on prediction markets related to the Iran conflict, including markets related to the U.S. striking Iran as well as the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

The bets generated significant profits and may have been placed using insider information.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS USING ONLINE PREDICTION MARKETS? DON'T BET ON IT

The Senate in April passed a resolution brought forward by Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, that changed the upper chamber's internal rules to ban lawmakers and their staff members from placing bets in prediction markets. Leading prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket expressed support for the effort at the time.

A broader bipartisan bill aimed at regulating prediction markets has also been introduced in the Senate by Sens. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. Their Prediction Market Act would also crack down on insider trading in prediction markets while also establishing regulatory frameworks to protect customers and retail investors.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

The House bill introduced by Steil that focuses on keeping lawmakers and their families from placing political and policy-related bets on prediction markets may be considered by the House Administration Committee. It would need to pass the House and Senate, then be signed by President Donald Trump to become law.