Comment Text:
Dear Chairman and Commissioners,
My name is Anson Brasselle, and I'm a trader and investor from Virginia. Im a blue-collar worker whos spent years learning to trade systematically, not just for myself but to build a better life for my family. Im writing in response to the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Prediction Markets (91 FR 12516) because I strongly support the freedom to participate in legal, regulated prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket, where I actively trade.
Ive found prediction markets to be incredibly valuable. Theyre not gambling, as some might claim. Trading on these platforms takes real research and judgment about the world, just like trading stocks or commodities. The prices often give insights you cant find in polls or news, and that information helps me make better decisions, both financially and personally. For someone like me, whos worked hard to get ahead, having access to these markets levels the playing field a bit. If only big institutions can participate, all that valuable data stays with them. Letting regular folks like me trade makes the system fairer and the prices more accurate. Im not here to get rich quick. Im here to hedge risks, like election outcomes or economic shifts that could impact my familys future.
I understand there are concerns about things like insider trading or manipulation. I get it. Those are real issues. But the CFTC already has laws and tools to tackle that. Insider trading is illegal, and your agency has the power to go after market manipulators. Banning or over-restricting prediction markets isnt the answer. It just punishes law-abiding citizens like me who want to participate legally. Worse, it pushes activity offshore to unregulated platforms where theres no oversight at all. Ive seen those sites. Theyre out there, and people who dont care about skirting the law will just go there instead. That doesnt make anyone safer. It just hurts folks like me who follow the rules.
Id like to address a couple of specific questions from your notice. On Question 7, about balancing innovation and consumer protection, I think regulated markets are the way to go. They let innovation happen while keeping traders safe under CFTC oversight. And on Question 15, about defining whats legitimate versus gaming, I believe prediction markets serve a real economic purpose. Theyre about information and hedging, not luck.
Im asking you to support proportionate regulation of prediction markets. Dont ban or over-restrict them. Keep them legal and accessible on regulated platforms so people like me can continue to participate safely and legally. My family and I depend on opportunities like this to get ahead, and I believe many others do too.
Thank you for considering my input.
Sincerely,
Anson Brasselle
