Hi there,

I’ll start with my low this week. There is a trend in the United States concerning betting on prediction market contracts—think Kalshi or Polymarket. People are wagering on everything from sports games to the outcomes of wars, and it has gotten totally out of control.

Currently, it’s being regulated by a federal agency that intended to use these contracts to help insure farmers against things like crop losses and storms. Now that these contracts have evolved to gambling-style bets, this federal regulation is pushing states out of the decision-making process.

As you know, Utah prohibits all forms of gambling, yet these products are putting casinos in the pockets of our young people and posing serious ethical and national security threats.

My high is that, with a bipartisan group of my colleagues, I introduced two pieces of legislation to deal with this. One clarifies that prediction markets offering sports and casino-style contracts are gambling—not financial products—and should be regulated as such. The other prohibits federally elected officials and government employees from using insider information to bet on prediction market contracts.

Both of these are very common-sense, and I’m looking forward to pushing them forward and seeing if we can solve this problem.

Have a good weekend.

Too many young people in Utah are getting exposed to addictive sports betting and casino-style gaming contracts that belong under state control, not under federal regulators. Senators Curtis and Schiff (D-CA) introduced the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act, bipartisan legislation to prohibit Commodity Futures Trading Commission registered entities from listing any prediction contract that resembles a sports bet or casino-style game. 





Full story by Krystal Hur here.



Public service should not be a pathway to private gain. Senators Curtis, Slotkin (D-MI), Young (R-IN), and Schiff (D-CA) introduced the bipartisan Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026. The bill prohibits federally elected officials and government employees from using insider information to bet on a prediction market contract.

Multiple news reports around the Iran conflict note elected and government officials at all levels are privy to confidential information that could appear on a prediction market. This legislation would ban them from using material non-public information of any kind on any event contract.



Full story by Megan Mineiro here.



Senator Curtis shared the following statement congratulating Markwayne Mullin on his confirmation as Secretary of Homeland Security:

“Congratulations to my colleague Markwayne Mullin on his confirmation as Secretary of Homeland Security. I was proud to support his nomination and look forward to his leadership in enforcing our laws with compassion, responding to disasters, and keeping the American people safe.”



Senators Curtis and Rosen (D-NV) sent a letter congratulating Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Riley Barnes, on his appointment and urging him to prioritize and advance U.S. policy towards Tibet. Barnes also serves as the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. In his capacity as Special Coordinator, the Senators called on Barnes to work with Congress to promote Sino-Tibetan dialogue, support the people of Tibet no matter where they reside, and counter Chinese malign influence.



Senator Curtis shared the following statement on Tuesday in celebration of National Agriculture Day: 

“On National Agriculture Day,  we consider just how much Utah depends on the people who grow our food and steward our land. Thank you to Utah’s farmers and ranchers who work long hours, take on real risk, and keep our state running.”

Senators Curtis, Duckworth (D-IL), and Kaine (D-VA), all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), led a bipartisan group of Senators in commemorating the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first presidential elections, while recommitting support for U.S. policy toward Taiwan as established by the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances.

“Having lived in Taiwan during the era of martial law, I witnessed firsthand a society striving for greater freedom. Over the past 30 years, Taiwan’s embrace of democratic elections has transformed it into one of the world’s most vibrant, prosperous, and innovative societies. Its success stands as a powerful testament to the strength of liberty, the rule of law, and the enduring promise of self-government. Taiwan’s journey reminds us that democracy, when nurtured and defended, can deliver both freedom and opportunity for generations.”

Full story by Ripon Advance here.

Federal support for state-driven proposals to stabilize the Great Salt Lake—consistent with what President Trump has offered—will help ensure Utah is adequately equipped to protect our economy and public health into the future. Senator Curtis met with Utah House Majority Leader Casey Snider to discuss how to keep this effort moving forward.





Utah’s defense manufacturing workforce helps strengthen our economy and support our national security. Senator Curtis met with John Pierce and George Smith of Veterans Trading Company—key suppliers to the Lockheed Martin F-35 program in Utah—to discuss the status of the program, the jobs they create, and the critical role they play in delivering 5th-generation fighter capability to protect America and our allies.





Our farmers and ranchers are the backbone of Utah’s economy and way of life. Senator Curtis met with the Utah Farm Bureau and Utah State University to discuss how we can support agriculture, strengthen rural communities, and keep Utah growing.





Strong partnerships between local and federal leaders are key to keeping Utah’s communities strong and prepared for the future—from welcoming the world to the 2034 Winter Olympics in Park City to managing rapid growth in South Jordan. Senator Curtis met with mayors Ryan Dickey of Park City, Josh Ewing of Bluff, Karen McCandles of Orem, and Dawn Ramsey of South Jordan to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities facing their cities and regions.

Long delays from USCIS can create real stress and uncertainty for families waiting on important decisions. One Utah constituent spent more than a year and a half without an answer on their application before turning to Senator Curtis’ office for help. With support from our casework team, the matter was resolved quickly and with a positive outcome. With their permission, we’re sharing their story to show how our office can help when federal cases have been stalled for far too long.



If you can't get an answer from a federal agency in a timely fashion, or if you feel you have been treated unfairly, our office may be able to help resolve a problem or get you the information you need. While we cannot guarantee you a favorable outcome, we will do our best to help you receive a fair and timely response to your problem.

Senators move to ban sports betting on prediction markets like Kalshi, Polymarket — first bill of its kind (New York Post)

Senators introduce bipartisan bill to ban sports betting on prediction markets (NBC News)

Bipartisan bill aims to ban sports-related bets on prediction markets (Sports Business Journal)

Sen. John Curtis joins bipartisan effort to streamline veterans' return to civilian life (Cache Valley Daily)

Utah senator leads charge with California to ban prediction market sports betting (KPCW)

Sen. John Curtis and bipartisan allies seek to streamline federal permitting with new law (Cache Valley Daily)

Sen. John Curtis talks betting ban, Iran, gas prices, and ICE facility (KUTV)

curtis.senate.gov

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