H.R. 9856House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated July 23, 2026 at 8:35 AM UTC

The Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act would amend the Commodity Exchange Act to bar the listing, clearing, or trading of contracts that predict outcomes of sports events or casino‑style games. It targets prediction‑market contracts on any live or virtual sporting competition and on games such as slots, blackjack, roulette, bingo, or lotteries. The rule would apply to all registered exchanges and affect anyone who creates or trades these event contracts.

Key Provisions

Adds a new subsection defining “casino‑style game” (e.g., slots, video poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, bingo, lottery, and similar simulations).
Defines “sporting event or athletic competition” to include any live or virtual contest with physical activity or skill, covering amateur, collegiate, and professional sports.
Prohibits any agreement, contract, or transaction related to those sports or casino‑style games from being listed or made available for clearing or trading through a registered entity.
The prohibition applies to contracts entered into on or after the law’s enactment.
Clarifies that the federal rule does not override any state laws that already regulate or ban such contracts.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Agriculture Committee

July 22, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 22, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Agriculture Committee

July 22, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 22, 2026

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9856

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 22, 2026

Mr. Horsford (for himself and Mr. Amodei of Nevada) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

To amend the Commodity Exchange Act to prohibit certain event contracts involving sports and casino-style games.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act.

Prohibition on certain event contracts involving sports and casino-style games

(a)

Amendment to the Commodity Exchange Act

Section 5c(c) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 7a–2(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(6)

Prohibition on sporting and casino-style event contracts

(A)

Definitions

In this paragraph:

(i)

Casino-style game

The term casino-style game means any game traditionally found in a casino, including slot machine games, video poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, any other casino-style table game, bingo, lottery, and any simulation of any of those games.

(ii)

Sporting event or athletic competition

The term sporting event or athletic competition means any live or virtual contest involving physical activity or skill in which individuals or teams compete and performance determines an outcome or statistical result, including amateur, collegiate, and professional sports.

(B)

Prohibition

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no agreement, contract, or transaction relating to any sporting event or athletic competition or any casino-style game may be listed or made available for clearing or trading on or through a registered entity.

(C)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to preempt any State law or rule that regulates or prohibits any agreement, contract, or transaction relating to any sporting event or athletic competition or any casino-style game.

(b)

Applicability of prohibition

Paragraph (6)(B) of section 5c(c) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 7a–2(c)) (as added by subsection (a)) shall apply to any agreement, contract, or transaction entered into on or after the date of enactment of this Act.