Prediction markets platform Kalshi is increasing its political and regulatory influence in Washington by supporting a new lobbying organization called Americans for Fair Markets, while also bringing former White House official Taylor Budowich on board as a strategic adviser.
The newly formed group aims to defend and promote prediction markets as regulatory scrutiny around the industry continues to intensify both in the United States and internationally.
Kalshi Targets Sportsbooks And Casino Opposition
Kalshi announced Friday that Americans for Fair Markets will push back against opposition from traditional sportsbooks and casino operators, which the company claims are attempting to protect their market dominance by spreading misleading narratives about prediction markets to lawmakers and regulators.
The organization was launched with support from Kalshi and joins a broader lobbying movement already underway within the prediction markets industry.
That effort includes the Coalition for Prediction Markets, an advocacy group formed in late 2025 with backing from major crypto and fintech firms including Coinbase, Crypto.com, and Robinhood.
According to Kalshi, the new organization will focus heavily on influencing federal policy while also funding public campaigns aimed at countering what it describes as misinformation surrounding prediction markets.
Congressional Scrutiny Continues To Grow
The launch of the lobbying group comes at a sensitive time for the industry.
On the same day the organization was announced, the US House reportedly opened an investigation into Kalshi and its main competitor, Polymarket, over concerns tied to insider trading practices and operational transparency.
Prediction markets have increasingly drawn attention from regulators as they grow in popularity across political, economic, and geopolitical events.
The appointment of Taylor Budowich also adds a political dimension to the initiative.
Budowich previously served as deputy White House chief of staff and remains closely connected to former President Donald Trump’s political circle.
Trump himself has expressed mixed views regarding prediction markets in recent months.
Last month, he criticized certain prediction market activity related to geopolitical betting surrounding tensions with Iran, stating he was unhappy with how the platforms operated during that period.
However, Trump later softened his stance, warning that the United States could fall behind globally if prediction market platforms were not allowed to develop domestically.
Prediction Markets Gain Political Influence
The industry’s ties to Trump-world have become increasingly visible.
Donald Trump Jr. previously invested in Polymarket, joined the company’s advisory board, and has also served as an adviser to Kalshi.
Meanwhile, Kalshi says Americans for Fair Markets will support the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as the primary federal regulator overseeing prediction markets.
This remains a major legal battleground.
Several US states argue that prediction markets violate local gambling laws, while the CFTC maintains that it has sole federal authority over these platforms because they operate as regulated financial contracts rather than traditional gambling products.
Americans for Fair Markets stated that it will advocate for federally regulated prediction markets that include consumer safeguards such as:
- Know-your-customer (KYC) requirements
- Insider trading restrictions
- Limits on markets connected to violence or terrorism
- Enhanced consumer protection standards
John Bivona, Kalshi’s head of government relations and newly appointed board member of the lobbying organization, said the industry plans to aggressively defend its position against traditional gambling interests.
“We’re not going to be outspent or out-organized by entrenched interests protecting their monopolies,” Bivona stated.
He added that millions of Americans have already shown strong interest in open and regulated prediction markets, and the organization intends to ensure continued public access to them.
As regulatory debates intensify, the battle over prediction markets may increasingly shape the future intersection of finance, gambling, politics, and crypto-based forecasting platforms in the United States.
