U.S. Senator John Curtis of Utah appeared with Senator Adam Schiff of California on CNBC’s Squawk Box on March 25 to discuss new legislation that would give states, rather than the federal government, authority over prediction gambling markets. The senators introduced the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act this week, which aims to prevent Commodity Futures Trading Commission registered entities from listing contracts similar to sports bets or casino games.
The issue is significant because it addresses where regulatory power should reside for gambling activities that resemble betting. Curtis said, “Let me say, we’re not banning sports betting. We’re just simply putting it in the right places to be regulated, and one of those places is in the state—and, as you alluded to, Utah does not allow gambling in any form. So, one of the things that’s really important to me is that we don’t take this control away from Utah.” He added that while revenue matters, “a much larger piece is who should be regulating this; where that authority lies. I think we both feel strongly that is in the states.”
Curtis also discussed concerns about unregulated prediction markets by saying: “Going back to prediction markets and whether or not it’s gambling—if it acts like gambling, if it looks like gambling; it is gambling. That’s been very clear where that belongs.” He warned about potential risks: “Imagine betting on a high school athlete getting hurt the day of a high school game… That’s why this needs the appropriate regulation.” On bipartisan support for their bill he said: “I actually think both of us feel that there’s a lot of momentum on both sides of the aisle on this. I think you’re going to see further legislation not only from us but from our colleagues…”
On other topics during the interview, Curtis criticized government shutdowns related to Department of Homeland Security funding: “Not a single one of them has produced the results it was intended to produce. Shutdowns are bad. We punish the wrong people and who we should be punishing are members of Congress… A lot of objectives…should be reached through legislative process—not by hostage.” On immigration enforcement he said: “This is the false narrative that you can’t have rule of law and compassion…. We have to have rule of law in this country. But compassion with that rule in law is not a mutually exclusive idea,” adding later regarding border policies under President Biden: “That is not compassion. That’s terrible… It wasn’t compassionate to encourage those people to come into our country undocumented and be subject to cartels…”
Curtis represents Utah in the Senate after serving two terms as mayor of Provo according to his official website. He has founded initiatives such as the Conservative Climate Caucus according to his official website and ranks among effective Republican lawmakers according to his official website. His platform emphasizes conservative environmental solutions and supporting small businesses according to his official website. Curtis raises six children and 17 grandchildren with his wife Sue according to his official website.
The debate over state versus federal regulation for emerging forms of online betting continues as lawmakers seek clarity for rapidly changing technologies.
