Comment Text:
Dear Chairman and Commissioners,
My name is Dorian Brown, and I'm just a regular person from Georgia with a 9-to-5 job. I'm writing to you about the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Prediction Markets (91 FR 12516) because I actively trade on platforms like Kalshi, and I believe these markets are valuable for people like me. I'm not some big investor or Wall Street type, but Ive found prediction markets to be a useful way to engage with events that affect my life, and I want to see them regulated fairly, not banned or choked with overly strict rules.
I started trading on Kalshi because I was tired of relying on shaky polls or TV pundits to figure out what might happen in elections or other big public events. The forecasts on prediction markets have consistently been more accurate, and thats information I cant get anywhere else. Its not just about making a few bucks (though I wouldnt mind winning big if yall could help with some credits!). Its about having a clearer picture of whats coming, whether its an election result that might change my taxes or a policy shift that could hit my job. Plus, these markets let me hedge real risks, like betting on economic outcomes that affect my bills or future plans. This isnt gambling to me. It takes research and thought, just like any other investment.
Im worried that over-restricting or banning these markets would push people like me to unregulated offshore platforms, which are way less safe. Id rather stick with a regulated market like Kalshi, where theres oversight. I also think the US should be leading the way in financial innovation. We shouldnt let other countries take over just because were too scared to set smart rules. And honestly, the CFTC already has tools to stop manipulation or insider trading. Use those instead of broad bans that punish everyone. Informed trading actually helps make prices more accurate, which benefits all of us, not just traders.
I noticed some of your questions in the ANPR, like Question 7 on balancing innovation with consumer protection and Question 15 on defining gaming versus legitimate markets. My take is simple: event contracts arent gaming. They serve real economic purposes like hedging and forecasting. And proportionate, targeted regulation is the way to go. Focus on specific risks instead of shutting down whole categories of contracts. Dont push activity offshore by overreacting.
Im asking you to support fair regulation of prediction markets. Keep platforms like Kalshi accessible to regular folks like me. Dont let heavy-handed rules or outright bans take away a tool that helps us understand and prepare for the future. Thanks for considering my thoughts.
Sincerely,
Dorian Brown
