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OAKLAND PARK, Fla (Gambling911.com) - James Fishback, a Republican candidate for Florida governor who lost his primary to Byron Donalds, blasted the online prediction market Kalshi for taking bets (trades) on what mentions he would make during certain speeches while running for governor.
"This is disgraceful. Kalshi set up betting markets that enticed people to bet their money on what words I would say in my speeches," Fishback tweeted Thursday.
"This should be illegal.
"There is no legitimate market need for this @mansourtarek_"
That tweet was directed at Kashi co-founder Tarek Mansour.
Speech, press conference and broadcast "mentions" odds are popular with both prediction markets and traditional gambling sites like Betonline and are rather benign in nature. Kalshi typically offers US President Trump "mention" markets on a weekly basis. They actually have a market currently on What will Trump say during his announcement on healthcare?. Trump's son, Don Jr, is on the advisory board of Kalshi.
The Florida investor, who ran right of Donalds, became a surprisingly visible candidate despite having never previously held elected office.
Fishback posted a screenshot of the then five most traded on candidates by volume at Kalshi in which he finished a respectable number 2 after LA mayoral candidate and former reality star Spencer Pratt.
Fishback's followers were mostly in agreement with him with comments that included:
"One of the worst things allowed in my lifetime has been the shift from (largely) frowned upon gambling to legalized and predatory gambling all over the place."
"Gambling on any non nationally elected office should be illegal. How is it any different from why an nba player cant bet on his own team? The concept is the same and with enough volume it will actually lead to election interference."
"One of the worst things allowed in my lifetime has been the shift from (largely) frowned upon gambling to legalized and predatory gambling all over the place. Not sure that genie will ever go back into the bottle."
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
