Polls Show Most Americans Oppose Election Betting

Public Divided on Prediction Markets, Poll Finds

A significant portion of Americans oppose the use of prediction markets for betting on U.S. elections and other government actions, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll. The industry, which includes platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, allows individuals to wager on election outcomes, policy shifts, and sporting events, leading to ongoing legal battles over regulatory authority between state and federal agencies.

The survey, conducted from September 30 to October 5 among 4,506 adults nationwide, revealed a bipartisan opposition to betting on election results. Sixty-nine percent of Democrats and 61% of Republicans polled expressed their disapproval of using prediction markets for this purpose.

Even betting on professional sports faced significant opposition, with 43% of respondents against it, while only 29% supported it.

The prediction market industry is currently navigating a complex regulatory landscape. The Trump administration has sought federal oversight through the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a move that has been met with resistance from various states. This conflict is widely anticipated to escalate to the Supreme Court.

A report from Cointelegraph on October 8 highlighted that 39 U.S. states and the District of Columbia filed an amicus brief, characterizing the dispute between the CFTC and state authorities over prediction markets as a “national turf war” that can only be resolved by a Supreme Court ruling.