Human suffering has now become a part of gambling. Polymarket had been allowing bets on when the US would strike Iran again. Now, with the event having occurred and lives lost, the prediction betting market is facing scrutiny. The platform has previously been involved in controversies, including suspected insider trading on the Super Bowl halftime show and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Polymarket defended its choice to allow betting on possible war events in a statement on its site, saying it was an “invaluable” source of information and answers, and criticized traditional media and Elon Musk’s X. The statement emphasized the importance of prediction markets in creating accurate, unbiased forecasts during difficult times, noting that they could provide answers that TV news and 𝕏 could not.
Attempts have been made to seek clarification from Polymarket on its policies regarding betting on violence, suffering, war, and death.