Comment Text:
I urge the CFTC to strongly consider the impact that allowing prediction markets to run will have on our society. Despite the best attempts of prediction markets to say otherwise, this is gambling. I come from a family where we have dear members who have struggled with gambling addiction, and allowing prediction markets to keep going is not only dangerous, it is inhuman. Not only because of the impact it has on individuals who put much on the line in the hope of a seemingly frivolous event happening, but also because Eric Trump, who is the son of the president, is sitting on the boards of two of the most popular prediction markets. Regardless of political affiliation, it should be acknowledged that the son of a sitting president who may or may not be privy to important information sitting on the board of two prediction markets is suspicious at best and downright dangerous at worst. The manipulation that already happens on these markets should be enough for the CFTC to consider disallowing prediction markets to continue functioning in the United States. People are already struggling as it is, and playing a rigged game is only going to make things worse and divide our country further. Betting on grisly events has the possibility to push people to extremes to make the money they have bet should this go unregulated or allowed to continue. As an American citizen, I strongly urge the CFTC to consider regulating or all out abolishing prediction markets to continue in the USA.
