Proposed Legislation Seeks to Ban Election Betting in the U.S.

Key lawmakers have introduced a bill to ban betting on elections, citing risks to democracy and public trust.

On December 18, Representatives Jamie Raskin and Andrea Salinas introduced the Ban Gambling on Elections Act, a proposed law aimed at outlawing all forms of wagering on U.S. elections. The legislation is intended to amend the Commodity Exchange Act to explicitly prohibit election betting.

The measure comes amid rising concerns that election-related gambling could undermine the democratic process by incentivising interference or manipulation of results.

Speaking on the matter, Representative Raskin underscored the importance of preserving public trust in electoral systems. “Democracy requires transparent and trustworthy voting processes,” he said, warning that election betting could turn the civic duty of voting into a profit-driven game.

Representative Salinas expressed similar concerns, highlighting how election betting could incentivise harmful interference. “Elections betting sets a dangerous precedent, incentivizing bad actors to try and influence or interfere with our election systems,” she stated. Salinas also called attention to the broader societal harm associated with gambling addiction and promised to continue supporting initiatives that address such issues.

This House bill mirrors a similar effort led by Senator Jeff Merkley in the Senate, signalling growing bipartisan support for action against election betting.

Potential Impacts

If passed, the legislation could reshape regulations surrounding election-related activities in the U.S., reinforcing the sanctity of the voting process. This proposal also comes at a time when concerns over election security and public trust in democracy remain high.