Former Republican Congressman George Santos has become the first individual to receive a lifetime ban from the online prediction market Kalshi. The platform took action against Santos following an investigation into his activity on the site during February 2026. According to Kalshi, Santos engaged in market manipulation by placing a series of large wagers regarding whether he would attend President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address.

While both sources agree on the core facts of the ban and the subject matter of the wagers, they differ on the financial consequences of the incident. The Washington Examiner reports that Kalshi imposed a specific financial penalty of $71,356 against the former representative. The Daily Wire mentions the ban and the illegal nature of the bets but does not include the specific dollar amount of the penalty in its initial reporting.

Santos, who was expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023, has faced various legal and ethical controversies throughout his career. The prediction market, which allows users to bet on the outcomes of political and economic events, stated that the ban was necessary to maintain the integrity of its contracts. The incident highlights the ongoing regulatory challenges facing prediction markets as they attempt to prevent participants from influencing the outcomes of the events they are betting on.