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Most Americans reject betting on elections, government events, poll finds

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FOX Local
Politics
Published October 12, 2026 1:19 PM CDT
Published October 12, 2026 1:19 PM CDT
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FILE-This photo illustration shows gambling dice in front of a screen showing political market odds, in Los Angeles on Nov. 1, 2023. Photo by CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images)

The Brief

    • More than half of Democrats and Republicans admit they don’t support the use of prediction markets to bet on the nation’s elections.
    • Over 60% of respondents are against wagering on military actions and bets on government policies, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
    • Several legislators worry that people using prediction market platforms could foster potential insider trading practices.

A new poll reveals that most Americans are not in favor of prediction markets to bet on elections and other government actions in the United States.

Prediction market platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi let individuals wager on numerous events like elections, government policy moves, and sporting events.

However, some policymakers contend that these platforms are opening lanes for insider trading. 

Americans oppose using prediction markets for elections

Dig deeper:

In a Reuters/Ipsos poll consisting of 4,506 Americans between Sept. 30 through Oct. 5, approximately 69% of Democrats and 61% of ​Republicans admitted they don’t support using prediction markets to bet on election results.

Another 65% of respondents surveyed said they oppose prediction market betting on U.S. military actions, while 63% admit they don’t support betting on government policy announcements or decisions, compared to 8% and 9%, who favor such bets. 

RELATED: More than $72 million already spent in midterm elections by sports betting industry

Additionally, 90% of Democrats and 89% of Republicans said it was inappropriate for members of Congress or their staff to bet on political events, while 6% and 8%, respectively, said it was appropriate.

Separately, the poll found that Americans are uneasy about increasingly wagering on real-world events. Respondents even chimed in on betting on professional sports, which was opposed by 43% of respondents compared to 29% who favor it. 

Furthermore, some lawmakers expressed concern that prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi, which use various methods to bet on the midterm elections, might compromise the integrity of the nation’s democracy and allow government ​insiders to disseminate confidential information through their trades.

Reuters reported that Kalshi banned former Republican congressman George Santos, who agreed to pay $35,000 to resolve government allegations of manipulative trading after he bet through Kalshi on whether he would attend the State of the Union address. Santos did not admit to ‌the accusations and ⁠said through his lawyer that he never planned to dupe anyone.

The Source: Information for this story was provided by a Reuters/Ipsos poll, which surveyed approximately 4,506 Americans between Sept. 30 through Oct. 5. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.


 

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