Minnesota Sen. Matt Klein Says He Bet on Own Primary, Calls It a “Mistake”
Published: April 22nd 2026
TWIN CITIES MN: Minnesota State Sen. Matt D. Klein (53, DFL), who represents a southeastern Twin Cities district and is currently running for Congress, issued a public statement after being penalized by a prediction market platform for betting on his own race.
Klein acknowledged placing a $50 wager in 2025 on a prediction market related to his primary election. In the statement, he said he learned about the platform through friends and had never previously used a prediction market.
“I set up an account and bet $50 of my own funds that I would win the primary,” Klein said, adding that he was informed in March 2026 that the action violated the platform’s rules.
Klein said he complied with the platform’s request by paying a penalty and agreeing to a suspension. He stated the wager was the only one he had ever made on a prediction market.
“This was a mistake, and I apologize,” Klein said.
In his statement, Klein said the experience highlights the need for clearer regulations.
“My experience, like many other Minnesotans, points to the need for clearer rules and regulations for these types of markets,” he said.
This report is based on a statement released by Klein’s campaign.