Congressman Flood Announces Flyover Fintech Panel on Prediction Markets

LINCOLN, NEBRASKA - Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood announced Flyover Fintech will feature a panel on Prediction Markets. The panel, featuring voices from both the prediction market industry and ​proponents for states to have greater authority over prediction markets, will take place at the Congressman's Flyover Fintech Conference in Lincoln on August 4th, 2026.

"Prediction markets are creating new ways for Americans to engage with information and ideas, but as prediction markets have grown in size, they have also become the subject of spirited public debate," said Congressman Mike Flood. "I'm looking forward to hosting voices from both the prediction markets industry and those advocating for states to have greater authority over prediction markets. I look forward to a thoughtful conversation on where this policy debate stands. Flyover Fintech is approaching soon, and I encourage everyone to register today.

Neal Kumar is Chief Legal Officer at Polymarket, where he leads legal strategy for one of the most prominent platforms operating at the intersection of prediction markets and digital assets. He brings deep experience in derivatives and commodities law, with a practice spanning regulatory compliance, enforcement defense, and transactional advisory for financial institutions, trading firms, and investment funds. Neal's perspective is shaped by both private- and public-sector experience. Earlier in his career, he served as Counsel in the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), where he worked on matters central to the oversight of U.S. derivatives markets. This experience provides him with a practical understanding of regulatory priorities, enforcement dynamics, and the evolving policy landscape affecting innovative financial products.

In private practice, Neal co-headed the Commodities and Derivatives practice at a major international law firm. He advised firms in high-stakes investigations and enforcement actions, offering strategic guidance to navigate regulatory scrutiny. At Polymarket, Neal applies this background to emerging questions around prediction markets, making him a key voice in the development of a nascent industry. He leads the company's legal, regulatory, and strategic initiatives across a wide range of matters, including exchange and clearinghouse regulation, commercial partnerships, corporate governance, litigation strategy, and public policy. His work sits at the intersection of financial markets, emerging technology, and blockchain infrastructure.

Mary Beth Thomas is the executive director of the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council, which is the state agency responsible for licensing sportsbooks and ensuring compliance with Tennessee's sports betting laws. Mary Beth previously served as general counsel to the Tennessee Secretary of State for eight years and spent eight years in private practice as a litigator for Waller Lansden Dortch and Davis in Nashville (now Holland & Knight).

Mary Beth is a graduate of the University of Tennessee (B.S., Finance) and the University of Tennessee College of Law (J.D.). She is currently the Vice President of the North American Gaming Regulators Association and has previously served on the boards of the Nashville Sports Council and the Sports Betting Regulators Association.

Photos of the panelists can be found here.

Flyover Fintech conferences feature a wide variety of speakers, ranging from members of the House Financial Services Committee to leading voices in the fintech industry. Congressman Flood has previously announced that U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael Selig will address this year's conference. Additional speakers and panelists for Flyover Fintech 2026 will be announced in the coming days.

Registration for the conference is now open at www.flyoverfintech.com. Additional details about the location and information about hotels and travel are also available there. The deadline to register is July 25, 2026.

Questions about the conference can be directed to Will Coup at [email protected].