1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to you today as a constituent to urge your immediate support for the STOP Corrupt Bets Act (S. 3842 / H.R. 7840) and the BETS OFF Act. These bills are critical to protecting the integrity of our democratic processes and preventing a dangerous new form of corruption in our government. In the first few months of 2026, we have seen a staggering $20 billion surge in prediction markets that allow individuals to bet on sensitive events like election outcomes, court rulings, and military actions. While some call this forecasting, the reality is that it turns our civic institutions into a casino for powerful insiders. I urge you to support this legislation to address three critical threats: - Conflict of Interest: We must not allow a system where government officials—or those with access to them—can profit from non-public information about military strikes, judicial decisions, or legislative votes. - Election Integrity: Allowing billion-dollar wagers on U.S. elections creates a massive incentive for both domestic and foreign bad actors to interfere with the democratic process for financial gain. - Economic Stability: Real markets should be for hedging risk and building value, not for speculating on assassinations, war, or the sanctity of the American vote. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) needs clear authority from Congress to ban these event contracts. Our democracy should be driven by the will of the people, not the wagers of speculators. I look forward to seeing you co-sponsor these bills and will be watching your leadership on this issue closely.