North Carolina
Will Congress Pass the No Betting on Your Own Race Act to Stop Candidate Trading?
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Key points
- Representative Don Davis introduced HR 10732 to ban federal candidates and their families from trading prediction contracts on their own elections.
- The bill imposes civil penalties of up to $10,000 or three times the net financial gain for violations.
- The legislation follows a controversy where prediction platform Kalshi suspended candidate Laurie Buckhout for trading on her own race.
NewsWK — Federal lawmakers are targeting election betting markets. Recently, a new bill emerged to stop candidates betting on own elections. The legislation aims to keep campaigns fair and transparent.
What is the Don Davis prediction market bill?
Representative Don Davis of North Carolina introduced HR 10732 on October 5, 2026. The bill blocks candidates, their spouses, and their dependent children from buying or selling election contracts. It also bans authorized campaign committees from trading on these markets.
Officially, the bill is titled the No Betting on Your Own Race Act. It amends Title 52 of the United States Code. Under this law, candidates cannot purchase prediction market contracts tied to their own victory, placement, or vote margin. Additionally, the ban applies to primary elections, caucuses, conventions, and general elections.
How does the North Carolina election betting bill affect campaign integrity?
This proposal aims to protect voter trust by eliminating financial conflicts of interest. Consequently, candidates cannot profit from their own electoral performance. The bill establishes clear rules for modern campaign finance as online betting platforms gain popularity across the nation.
Meanwhile, the House Committee on House Administration will oversee the bill. Violators face steep civil penalties. Specifically, the government can fine offenders $10,000 or three times the net financial gain from the transaction, whichever amount is greater. Representative Davis cited Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution as authority for the bill.
Why did the Laurie Buckhout Kalshi controversy spark this legislation?
Representative Davis introduced the measure following regulatory actions in his own congressional race. The prediction market platform Kalshi suspended and fined his Republican opponent, Laurie Buckhout. She had traded contracts tied to their election, prompting Davis to draft the federal ban.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Sources
Related: CFTC prediction market rules proposed by Trump administration
Related: Trump Administration Proposes New CFTC Prediction Market Rules
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