Bill to Ban Prediction Markets in Minnesota Set to Hit Senate Floor Days After Lawmaker There Admits to Betting on Himself

• A bill to ban bets on prediction market topics such as weather, court cases, popular culture and the outcome of an election is heading to the Senate floor

• A state lawmaker admitted to betting on his own election at Kalshi and has received a 5-year ban for doing so

• A companion bill in the House faces an uphill battle with only a few weeks left in the current legislative period

A bill to ban most bets on prediction markets is heading for a Minnesota Senate floor vote just days after a lawmaker sparked controversy by putting money on his own primary race for Congress.

SF 4511 “Prohibit certain wagers and other activities regarding prediction markets.” cleared a key Senate committee Friday. The measure explicitly states that bets on topics like the weather, court cases, events in popular culture, the outcome of an election and more would be deemed illegal under Minnesota law.

The legislation targets prediction betting sites like Kalshi and Polymarket. 

"Kalshi now claims it's the first nationwide legal sports betting app and we would argue it's not in compliance with our laws," said Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, the lead sponsor of the legislation.

But in an ironic twist, one of the state's lawmakers was cited for betting on his own election by Kalshi this week. 

DFL state Sen. Matt Klein, who is running in the Democratic primary for Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District, admitted to doing so and paid a fine in a settlement.

He received a five-year ban from using the Kalshi platform.

In a statement, he said he was curious how it worked and that the $50 bet was a mistake and apologized. He's the coauthor on Marty's bill.

"My experience, like many other Minnesotans, points to the need for clearer rules and regulations for these types of markets," Klein told WCCO in a statement. 

A companion bill in the Minnesota House facing a less certain future of moving forward after GOP leadership raised questions on Thursday and worried it could be tied up in litigation. 

Time is not on the side of those in favor of such legislation.  The 2026 Minnesota legislative session must end by May 18, 2026.

• Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com