Betting on Wildfires Sparks Political Push | Santa Fe News

Senator Martin Heinrich and fellow Democrats are pushing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to shut down prediction markets that let people bet on disasters like wildfires—after one site raked in $1.2 million betting on California fires that killed lives and destroyed homes. Lawmakers warn these markets turn suffering into gambling for the wealthy, and raise alarms about arsonists betting on fires to win, plus insider trading risks as officials scramble to respond. This isn’t new for Heinrich—he’s already sent a letter demanding federal oversight, while states like New Mexico consider regulation or lawsuits. The debate is heating up as lawmakers race to prevent real-world chaos before it escalates. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/8aba2c1cf27b254e