White House employee fined for betting on prediction markets using inside knowledge

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Former White House teleprompter operator Gabriel Perez was ordered to surrender over US$100,000 in profits and pay a US$65,000 fine following a settlement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Authorities determined that Perez used inside knowledge to trade presidential “mention market” contracts on the Kalshi platform between December 2025 and February 2026. These contracts involved betting on specific words or phrases the president would use during speeches while Perez was employed at the White House. The situation gained public attention when reports of the activity led to Perez being placed on unpaid leave before he ultimately left his position.

Consequences

Perez faces a three-year ban from participating in trading activities as a result of the federal settlement. The incident underscores the regulatory scrutiny facing prediction markets regarding the use of non-public information by government employees.

Sources

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