Comment Text:
Dear Chairman and Commissioners,
My name is Shana Dellos, and I'm just an everyday citizen from California writing to share my thoughts on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Prediction Markets (91 FR 12516). I'm new to prediction markets, but I strongly support their existence and want to see them regulated in a fair way, not banned or overly restricted. I care about this because, in America, we have the freedom to spend our money as we choose, and that's what drew me to platforms like Kalshi in the first place.
I love that I can use my opinions on different topics on Kalshi to see if my guesses are right. It's fun, sure, but it's not gambling in my view. This isn't like betting on horses or greyhounds, which I don't do. Prediction markets feel different; theyre about making informed guesses based on real-world events. I think they serve a real purpose, like helping people understand what might happen with things like elections or economic changes. To me, if anyone needs more scrutiny, it's platforms like DraftKings, not these markets.
I also believe the CFTC already has the tools to handle any bad behavior, like manipulation or insider trading. I've read that you have broad powers to go after people who try to mess with prices on regulated markets. You don't need to shut down prediction markets to stop a few bad actors; just use what you've got. I'm all for strong rules, though. Please make sure there are tough, clear regulations against things like pump-and-dump schemes or illegal trading. If you don't, these platforms won't last long, and thatd be a shame for folks like me who are enjoying them.
As for specific questions in your notice, I think my views tie into Question 15 about defining gaming versus legitimate markets. I don't see prediction markets as gaming. They're more like a tool to test what I think about the world, and I believe they have economic value. I'm also thinking about Question 29 on insider trading. I trust you can handle that without banning the whole market, just like you do with other kinds of trading.
Im just an average Jane here, but I've been having a good time with this platform so far. People should be able to do what they want with their own money, as long as it's fair and above board. I urge you to support proportionate regulation of prediction markets and not over-restrict them. Thanks for listening to my thoughts.
Sincerely,
Shana Dellos
