Most Americans polled by Reuters/Ipsos are opposed to betting on US elections and other government actions.
The prediction market industry, led by Polymarket and Kalshi, enables people to bet on US ‌elections, government policy moves and sporting events, which has resulted in a series of lawsuits involving state and federal agencies over who has the authority to regulate these markets.
Some 69% of Democrats ​and 61% of Republicans polled said they opposed using prediction markets to bet on election results. The <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/most-americans-oppose-betting-elections-government-events-reutersipsos-poll-2026-10-12/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reuters/Ipsos survey</a> of 4,506 adults nationwide was taken on Sept. 30-Oct. 5.
<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/blockchain-cftc-approval-derivatives-prediction-markets" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Related: Blockchain.com pursues CFTC approval for prediction markets: CNBC</a>
Even betting ⁠on professional sports was opposed by 43% of respondents, while 29% supported it, the poll said.
President ​Donald Trump’s administration is pursuing federal regulations for the industry through the CFTC, some of which are begin challenged in court by several states. Many expect ​the dispute to reach the US Supreme ⁠Court.
Cointelegraph <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/nfl-new-jersey-supreme-court-kalshi" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">reported</a> on Oct. 8 that 39 states and the District of Columbia filed an amicus brief in a New Jersey case <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/26/26-299/428759/20261007134816267_Kalshi%20Cert%20Amicus.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">contending</a> the conflict between the CFTC and state authorities over prediction markets had resulted in a “national turf war” that could not be resolved without an answer from the Supreme Court.
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Most Americans polled oppose betting on elections: Reuters

Cointelegraph

Other articles published on Oct 18, 2026

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