A Democratic bill with 7 Democratic cosponsors · See all 7 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The BETS OFF Act prohibits any person from placing, accepting, or facilitating wagers regarding specified events. These specified events include acts of terrorism, assassinations, wars, or certain government actions where the outcome is controlled or known in advance. The bill empowers the Attorney General to bring civil actions for injunctive relief against those who violate these prohibitions. Additionally, the Act amends several existing laws regarding racketeering, illegal gambling businesses, and unlawful internet gambling. It also restricts registered entities from listing or trading contracts related to these specified events.
Yes
- Scored +3
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill prevents individuals from engaging in potentially predatory wagering on sensitive national events.
- Scored +2
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill restricts the ability to profit from government-controlled or known outcomes.
- Scored +1
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?
By regulating the trading of sensitive data related to wars or terrorism, it limits information exploitation.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill restricts the ability of registered entities to list or trade contracts related to specified events.
- Scored -1
Does this change how police departments operate?
The bill expands the scope of federal racketeering laws to include these prohibited wagers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Legal Accountability: The bill allows the Attorney General to bring civil actions for injunctive relief against anyone who violates the prohibition on wagering on specified events (Section 3(a)).
-
Regulatory Clarity on Insurance: The bill clarifies that wagers do not include insurance for which the insured holds a lawful insurable interest, such as those under the Terrorism Insurance Program or the National Flood Insurance Program (Section 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Restrictions on Financial Instruments: The Act amends the Commodity Exchange Act so that no agreement, contract, transaction, or swap involving a specified event—including those based on related data or occurrences—can be listed or traded through a registered entity (Section 4(d)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill prevents individuals from engaging in potentially predatory wagering on sensitive national events.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill restricts the ability of registered entities to list or trade contracts related to specified events.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill restricts the ability to profit from government-controlled or known outcomes.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — By regulating the trading of sensitive data related to wars or terrorism, it limits information exploitation.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill expands the scope of federal racketeering laws to include these prohibited wagers.
- 4/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/3/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
- 3/25/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/24/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 3/17/2026
- Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Gabe AmoDemocrat · Rhode Island
Yassamin AnsariDemocrat · Arizona
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Valerie FousheeDemocrat · North Carolina
Jared MoskowitzDemocrat · Florida
Seth MagazinerDemocrat · Rhode Island
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan