July 20, 2023 Comment to CFTC on Election GamingProhibit Gambling on ElectionsBy Craig Holman, Ph.D.Share FacebookTwitterEmailComment to FTC on Election GamingChairman Rostin BehnamCommodity Futures Trading CommissionThree Lafayette Centre1155 21st Street, NWWashington, D.C. 20581RE: Public Citizen response to the request for comment on the proposed gaming contract of KalshiEX that would authorize gambling on election outcomes (Release No. The Kalshi contract proposal poses precisely such a threat by seeking government sanction of sports betting on election outcomes. The states and the CFTC have appropriately banned gambling on election outcomes through most of American history. The CFTC should continue standing for election integrity and not allow itself to be used as back-door entry for the gaming industry to profit from politics. In the meantime, election gaming can encourage manipulation of the electoral process and risks incentivizing a variety of means to affect election outcomes by those who stand to lose or gain large sums of money, from pouring additional funds into outside electioneering groups to intimidating election workers and perhaps even denying election results.

Source: CNN July 20, 2023 21:50 UTC