Prediction markets platform Kalshi said on Monday it would block politicians and athletes from betting on their ​respective markets, as it aims to fend off ‌growing scrutiny around potential insider trading.

The firm said it has launched new technological guardrails that preemptively block political candidates from trading on ​their own campaigns, as well as individuals involved ​in college and professional sports, including athletes, personnel ⁠and referees, from betting on markets associated with their ​sports.

The company recently faced backlash on ​its markets that allowed placing bets on the ouster of Iran’s Supreme ‌Leader ⁠Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sparking calls from Democratic lawmakers to outlaw wagers on military actions that could enrich officials with inside knowledge.

Prediction markets have surged in popularity since the ​2024 U.S. Presidential ​election, when ⁠their real-time probabilities proved more accurate than polling in forecasting Donald Trump’s victory.