PANews reported on April 8th that, according to The Block, U.S. House Democrats recently sent a letter to Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael Selig, demanding that the agency crack down on offshore prediction market platforms that allow users to bet on events such as U.S. military operations. This comes after contracts for the rescue of a U.S. pilot shot down in Iran were circulating on these platforms over the weekend. The letter, spearheaded by Representatives Seth Moulton and Jim McGovern, argues that turning war into a gambling opportunity is pathological, involving bets on bombing, bloodshed, and military action, and that human lives should not be treated as numbers on a screen.

In their letter, lawmakers cited internal CFTC rules prohibiting the listing of contracts involving terrorism, assassination, war, gambling, or activities that violate federal law. They stated that the recent proliferation of contracts clearly violating U.S. law indicates a lack of proper regulation in the industry and questioned why the CFTC has not yet taken action. The CFTC has previously claimed exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets. Lawmakers demanded a response from the CFTC by April 15.