Lawmakers want this new betting trend shut down before it’s too late

Historians, ethics experts, and lawmakers say prediction markets could increase the risk of arson by putting money on the line.

[Source photos: Adobe Stock]

As wildfires rip through the Pacific Northwest, a group of lawmakers is calling on federal regulators to intervene to stop some very grim gambling activity that poses dangers of its own.

Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley led a group of lawmakers this week in asking for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (which regulates U.S. derivatives markets) to crack down on wildfire-related betting by putting “common-sense guardrails” in place. In Oregon, Portland topped global charts for dangerous air quality........

© Fast Company