Whitesides Introduces Federal Bill to Ban Wildfire Prediction Markets

This image was created entirely by AI with guidance from our editorial team.

Rep. George Whitesides, D-Agua Dulce, has introduced the No Bets on Wildfires Act, a federal proposal to prohibit wildfire-related betting on prediction markets, according to the Santa Clarita Valley Signal. The proposal follows more than $1 million in fire-related bets on Polymarket during the Los Angeles wildfires in early 2025, according to a news release from his office.

Whitesides represents most of the Santa Clarita Valley. The Signal lists James Gallagher, R-CA, Andrea Salinas, D-OR, and Vince Fong, R-CA, as the other authors of the bipartisan proposal.

Bill would prohibit wildfire-related contracts

The No Bets on Wildfires Act would prohibit all registered entities from listing for trade or accepting for clearing any contract, agreement, swap or transaction involving a wildfire caused by any means.

Whitesides described the intended restriction as applying broadly to wildfire wagering:

“My bill is simple – no one, on any prediction market or betting platform, should be allowed to gamble on any issue relating to wildfires,” he said in the release.

Los Angeles fire bets prompted concerns

According to the release, Polymarket users wagered on how many acres the Los Angeles fires would burn, which cities would be hit and when firefighters would contain the blazes.

Whitesides’ office said allowing such markets could create a monetary incentive to start or influence future wildfires. That concern is a rationale for the proposal, not a finding that bettors influenced the 2025 fires.

“In Northern California, we know all too well the devastation wildfires can bring,” Gallagher said in the release. “Families have lost their homes, entire communities have been destroyed, and lives have been turned upside down. The idea that someone could turn around and profit by betting on the next wildfire is absolutely outrageous.”

More from playca.com

• Los Angeles bar group uses $60,000 Kalshi trade to hedge Dodgers revenue
• CFTC Nationwide Access Demand Conflicts With California Prediction Market Ruling
• Polymarket and Kalshi now show AOC ahead of Gavin Newsom for 2028 Democratic nod

—

Source: As reported by Santa Clarita Valley Signal.