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Scandal-ridden former Rep. George Santos was slapped with Kalshi’s first-ever lifetime ban after he allegedly made more than $17,000 in illicit profits while betting on his own attendance at the State of the Union address earlier this year.

On top of the ban, Santos faces $71,356 in penalties for not cooperating with Kalshi’s internal investigation, the platform said Monday.

Between Feb. 2 and Feb. 25, 2026, Santos – the GOP congressman who was expelled in 2023 – placed a series of large bets on whether he would attend President Trump’s State of the Union address. He made $17,839.57 on the bets, according to Kalshi.

3 Former Rep. George Santos recieved a lifetime ban from Kalshi. Brian Zak/Page Six

In a post on X just days before the speech, Santos wrote: “I’m going to be there for the State of the Union in the gallery, guys” – but the day of the address, he posted that he was actually watching it from an airport TV, blaming poor weather conditions.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC, alleged Santos made misrepresentations and omissions online that influenced the market he was betting on, and that he should not have been betting on an event that he had the power to influence.

In July, the ousted New York lawmaker agreed to pay more than $35,000 in a settlement with the CFTC.

At the time of the settlement, Joseph Murray, Santos’ attorney, said the sacked congressman had agreed to make the payment to avoid a potentially lengthy and expensive legal battle, adding that it “should not be mistaken for admission of any wrongdoing.”

Santos, who can appeal Kalshi’s decision to the CFTC, voiced a defiant stance on Monday.

3 Between Feb. 2 and Feb. 25, 2026, Santos – the GOP congressman who was expelled in 2023 – placed a series of large bets on whether he would attend President Trump’s State of the Union address. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

“Hey @Kalshi thanks for the lifetime ban from your gambling platform,” he wrote on X. “Let’s see how much longer you guys are around for.”

In its case against Santos, the CFTC banned the disgruntled pol from all prediction market platforms for three years, noting in its decision that he cooperated with the agency’s probe.

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The federal regulator alleged that over a two-week period in February, the ex-congressman made several posts online that deceived gamblers into believing he would be attending the State of the Union. It added that he should not have been betting on an event that he had the power to influence.

Severe weather ultimately sidelined Santos’ travel plans to Washington, and he quickly bought Kalshi contracts saying he would not appear at the speech – selling them for a large profit after he had misled others into believing he would attend, according to the CFTC.

3 George Santos departs his sentencing on criminal corruption charges in April 2025, at the Central Islip Federal Courthouse in Central Islip, NY. REUTERS

Kalshi’s rival Polymarket ended its paid partnership with Santos, who had been promoting the company online, while the investigation was still underway in June.

In 2023, Santos became the first member of the House to be expelled in more than 20 years, following a New York Times report that he lied about his education and his job experience at high-profile Wall Street firms.

In 2024, he pleaded guilty to federal charges of wire fraud and identity theft. He was sentenced to 87 months in prison, but Trump commuted his sentence last year.

Santos’ sketchy bets are just the latest wagers to highlight concerns that prediction markets do not include enough barriers to insider trading.

On Friday, the CFTC announced that Gabriel Perez – a longtime White House teleprompter operator accused of making $100,000 by trading on inside information – will cough up a $65,000 civil penalty and return his winnings.

Kalshi placed a three-year ban on Perez. The CFTC also banned Perez from using all trading markets for three years.

Meanwhile, a member of the armed forces is expected to face criminal charges after reportedly winning more than $1 million on Polymarket by betting on US actions against Iran and Venezuela.

In March, Kalshi and Polymarket added new anti-insider trading rules to their platforms amid a flurry of legislative proposals seeking to ban officials from using the prediction markets.

Critics have also called for rules that would forbid Kalshi and Polymarket from offering bets related to terrorism and war altogether, warning they could act as an incentive for violence.

Santos’ lawyer did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.