Senate quietly bans lawmakers from betting on prediction markets
Senators can no longer use insider information to profit on emerging prediction market platforms.
The Senate, before leaving Washington, D.C., for a weeklong recess, quietly passed legislation that would prevent senators and their staff from betting on prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket.
On those platforms, users can bet on nearly anything, from world events and political races to the outcome of a war or whether a notable figure will get a divorce.
CONGRESS EXTENDS CONTROVERSIAL SPY LAW FOR 45 DAYS AFTER SENATE REJECTS HOUSE BILL
The move, pushed by Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, passed the upper chamber unanimously and immediately changed the Senate’s rules.
Moreno said his legislation was meant to erase concerns of "side hustles" by lawmakers and increase faith in the institution. It comes as lawmakers have tried and failed to police themselves with bans on stock trading while in office.
"I don't believe we should trade stocks at all. It’s completely insane," Moreno said. "I think we should focus on our jobs and have our voters go, ‘Hey, this guy's voting this way, because this is the right thing for the state.’"
DEMOCRATS FAIL TO SHATTER REPUBLICANS' RESOLVE ON EVE OF CRUCIAL IRAN DEADLINE
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 25: In this photo illustration, An app for Polymarket, an online prediction market site, is shown on February 25, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo Illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., lauded the move on the Senate floor and called for similar guardrails to be installed in the House.
"Speaker Johnson should immediately do the same thing in the House," Schumer said.
There is an effort bubbling in the House to do the same, led by Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, who is running to replace retiring Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.
HEGSETH TESTIFIES AT SENATE AS IRAN WAR'S $25B PRICE TAG AND 60-DAY WAR POWERS DEADLINE LOOM
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, during a news conference following the weekly Senate Democrat policy luncheon at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Photographer: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg vi
The most popular prediction market companies are backing the move, too. Polymarket said in a statement on X, "We’re in full support of this."
"Our Rulebook & Terms of Service already prohibit such conduct, but codifying this into law is a step forward for the industry," the company said. "Happy to help move this forward however we can."
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Tarek Mansour, the co-founder of Kalshi, similarly pushed for the House to do the same.
"Kalshi already proactively blocks members of Congress and enforces against insider trading," Mansour said on X. "This is a great step to increase trust in our markets by making it an industry standard."
Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate.