- An investigation found dozens of social media creators were paid to film themselves placing fake bets on copycat versions of the Polymarket website.
- A review of over 1,100 videos found none of the roughly $1.9 million in bets shown were real, including a staged $100,000 win.
- The marketing campaign targeted U.S. audiences, despite the platform’s main site being geoblocked for American users.
- Polymarket stated it is “committed to maintaining accurate, fair, and transparent markets” and plans an audit of its promotional content.
A recent investigation revealed Polymarket paid dozens of creators to film deceptive promotional content. These individuals, mostly college-age, pretended to place large bets and celebrate fabricated wins on dummy versions of the prediction market’s site.
The Wall Street Journal reviewed 1,105 videos and found none of the roughly $1.9 million in showcased wagers were genuine. One notable clip featured a creator falsely celebrating a $100,000 win on a bet about former President Donald Trump‘s speech.
Creators used test environments or sites on misspelled domains like “poiymarket.com,” which a source confirmed were built by Polymarket. They were paid $2,000 to $3,000 monthly and instructed not to disclose the financial arrangement.
Consequently, this campaign specifically targeted U.S.-based audiences through a marketing firm. This is notable because the main Polymarket platform remains geoblocked for American users following a 2022 regulatory settlement.
The findings complicate the platform’s regulatory standing as it seeks U.S. re-entry. Meanwhile, state regulators in Kentucky, Nevada, and Arizona have filed lawsuits, alleging its event contracts constitute illegal gambling.
In response, Polymarket told the Journal it is “committed to maintaining accurate, fair, and transparent markets.” The company announced plans for a comprehensive audit of its promotional content.
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