{
  "id": 18587,
  "title": "Walz orders ethics clampdown targeting state employees using prediction market information",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/29/walz-orders-ethics-clampdown-targeting-state-employees-using",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-07-29T10:19:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ReadWrite",
    "slug": "readwrite",
    "url": "https://readwrite.com/minnesota-walz-state-employees-prediction-market/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has implemented an executive order aimed at curbing state employees from utilizing confidential or nonpublic government data in prediction markets. The directive is intended to enhance ethics regulations and maintain public confidence in state government operations. As prediction markets have gained popularity online, allowing users to gamble on future events including elections, sports, government decisions, and economic developments, Walz highlighted the predisposition of these platforms to insider trading due to access to sensitive information. He criticized entities such as President Donald Trump and Kalshi for prioritizing financial gain over public trust and safety. Walz admonished that irrespective of their intentions, he is taking action to uphold Minnesota's stringent ethical standards. The order extends to all state agencies, including the governor, lieutenant governor, and agency commissioners, prohibiting their involvement in prediction markets using confidential data, even without financial gain or loss aversion. Violators may face disciplinary actions, potentially including termination, and may also face criminal penalties under existing state law. The rulebook further directs other state bodies to reassess their ethics policies, considering analogous restrictions to circumvent misuse of confidential data. The executive order, effective 15 days post-publication in the State Register and filing with the Minnesota Secretary of State, remains in force until rescinded or its expiration date in accordance with state law. This announcement follows a concurrent legal challenge over Minnesota's attempt to regulate prediction markets. A federal judge on July 28 issued a preliminary injunction blocking the state from enforcing a law set to commence on August 1, pending further disputes from Kalshi, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and QCX LLC, which operates Polymarket US.",
  "summary": "Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has signed an executive order barring state employees from using confidential or nonpublic government information to… Continue reading Walz orders ethics clampdown targeting state employees using prediction market information The post Walz orders ethics clampdown targeting state employees using prediction market information appeared first on ReadWrite .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}