Read our Privacy noticeA group of Democratic US senators has warned that betting on wildfires may increase the risk of arson as several states fight unprecedented blazes. The lawmakers specifically mentioned reports about people betting on wildfires on Polymarket, but warned that this issue could expand to other prediction markets. A spokesperson for another popular prediction market, Kalshi, told The Independent it does not allow betting on wildfires “because they create perverse incentives.” “By offering contracts on fires, prediction market sites run the risk of encouraging people to influence fires that have already started, creating additional concerns around public safety and insider trading,” the senators wrote. There were 49 fires actively burning in Oregon and Washington Wednesday, per Portland news outlet KATU.