Most Americans oppose betting on elections, government events, Reuters/Ipsos pol

[hmbdofficial]

It probably won't lead to manipulation but people are very easily mislead these days, especially the weak minded folks, the moment one candidate that having more people betting for them to win you will find that most who were apathetic to the election will end up voting for whoever was is leading in the bets and something like that can very easily be manipulated with mass false bets being placed on one candidate over the other.
Besides all that, Americans have preached rights to the point where y'all are allowed to do some really stupid things, where's the smartness in betting on your own presidential election, it shows how much of a joke the election is to most of y'all.

But the result of the bet can only be known after the election result are out. And I don’t think people will have to know who other people bet on to win, it’s just the normal way the voting count are done. but in this case, bettors could just gamble on who is going to win, and not necessarily show others who they had their bet on. I don’t think it can actually influence the final result or even the process of voting or people choice rather.

[Africolo]

I am 1 who feels like all politicians are crooked and take bribes. If they had to show a money trail like the rest of Americans, most of them would likely be in prison for money laundering or something like that.

Getting on topic, allowing the bettors (yes bettors) to bet on elections could result in the wrong politician getting voted into office just because x number of people decided they would rather try to win a big bet they placed vs deciding who is the best crooked politician to run the country. Just doesn't make sense to allow bets on things of this importance IMO.

I agree with you on your points, this politicians can't be trusted because they have different means to manipulate the results in their favour, there's no politician who's not into money laundering and other means to make money, some are deeply routed in gambling and are addicted to betting.

I see that process of allowing gambling to bet on an election as a joke because there are things that are just too sensitive and voting in an election to project a leader is a good thing that needs seriousness so it's totally out of place for me to allow bettings on elections and if it is implemented, it's going to be the most manipulative elections ever in the history of human race. Bettor will definitely gamble on who they want to win the election so it's not a good idea that shouldn't be implemented but banned.

[Johnlomape]

The title of the topic in full: Most Americans oppose betting on elections, government events, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

I do not know if this is initiated not to allow prediction market not to allow United States presidential election bet. 4506 people in the United States voted. The vote is not in favour of gamblers.



There are also gambling sites that are not predication markets that allow bets on United States presidential election.

https://www.reuters.com/world/most-americans-oppose-betting-elections-government-events-reutersipsos-poll-2026-10-12/

Do you think that survey is accurate?

I do not think this kind of service is necessary. I do not see a way betting on United States presidential election can lead to manipulations.

The people have the power to vote against this because it is not ethical for the government to allow some random billionaires to launch a prediction market that is full of manipulation while the citizens are getting trapped losing their funds without any regulation to control the kind of betting options they are providing that shouldn't have include politics of any form.

Even with this vote, nothing is going to happen and the license of these prediction market will not be revoked at all.
These companies are in profits and they are making billions of dollars from offering this service which the government is benefiting from taxing both the players and the companies at the same time.

[YellowSwap]

Prediction markets bets has nothing to do with the actual election. Just because a few people say a particular party will win doesn't mean they would. Besides the numbers are way to small compared to the actual number of people in the country. Using that has to say the election will go this way is out of line and won't actually mean something tangible.

For the drop in betting over the years is staggering and still more gambling sites are popping up. I guess it's not only that region they are servicing. I wish to know the cause of the huge decline in betting.

From what I have read about the whole citizens  anger is not about predicting the outcome of election which is most gambled about because no one can tell untill the elections are conducted, their own problem is in the possibility of insiders practices either from the politicians angles, or the predictions market, who could change results or get prior information to work and bet with.

It's so unfair on gamblers side to place bets on prediction market, insiders knows what will play out and they are betting a larger amount of money on it, no one should know what will happen, everyone should be on that prediction lane.

I expect people to be this angry and I believe this is the reason, insiders have the power to change the event outcome or get stronger information before D-day, it's a cheating on the sincere gamblers.

[WhoYouCantKill]

But the result of the bet can only be known after the election result are out. And I don’t think people will have to know who other people bet on to win, it’s just the normal way the voting count are done. but in this case, bettors could just gamble on who is going to win, and not necessarily show others who they had their bet on. I don’t think it can actually influence the final result or even the process of voting or people choice rather.

You do raise a very vital point here. Because it’s really hard to actually think of how a person putting money on a candidate can actually change how another person casts their secret ballot in the booth. Both gambling and elections are private because no one actually stands at the polling units to declare who they actually voted for.

And even in a country where election malpractice and fraud is rampant, both different parties would still try to cheat their way to winning, which still makes the results unpredictable.

[7juju]

This explains the decline in betting activity in America, according to Gallup's latest survey, only 45% of American adults reported gambling in the past year, compared to 64% in 2016.

Of course you cannot expect the majority to favor gambling or even gamble because this data already shows that fewer Americans are participating.
And since this is election betting, they would be even less likely to support it as it could undermine the integrity of the election.

But I’m still wondering how betting in an election would undermine the integrity of an election. The election have an independent body that handles the electoral activities. The gambling platforms are just putting this options there to enable people who following the election process bet on their favorite candidate think will win, or bet against someone that they believe will not win. I don’t see anything wrong with that. If electoral processes are transparent, they don’t have anything to worry about.

[Bigjoe33]

I am 1 who feels like all politicians are crooked and take bribes. If they had to show a money trail like the rest of Americans, most of them would likely be in prison for money laundering or something like that.

Getting on topic, allowing the bettors (yes bettors) to bet on elections could result in the wrong politician getting voted into office just because x number of people decided they would rather try to win a big bet they placed vs deciding who is the best crooked politician to run the country. Just doesn't make sense to allow bets on things of this importance IMO.

I agree with you on your points, this politicians can't be trusted because they have different means to manipulate the results in their favour, there's no politician who's not into money laundering and other means to make money, some are deeply routed in gambling and are addicted to betting.

I see that process of allowing gambling to bet on an election as a joke because there are things that are just too sensitive and voting in an election to project a leader is a good thing that needs seriousness so it's totally out of place for me to allow bettings on elections and if it is implemented, it's going to be the most manipulative elections ever in the history of human race. Bettor will definitely gamble on who they want to win the election so it's not a good idea that shouldn't be implemented but banned.

We shouldn't hear things like this in the first place. What are they trying to prove? That they have money and can bet?, or they just catching fin with there betting, for something that concerns the nation? Common!

It is totally out of place, because there would surely be influencers. Those with the big bag and that are sponsors will always play there way out and make sure they place big money and then influence the outcome of the elections, and at the end, they win there bet. Elections are sensitive issues because it concerns the common man and how he is been governed. It is not soposed to be gambled at all for any reason.

[Smartprofit]

As the saying goes: "There are lies, there are damned lies, and then there are statistics!" No, I don't think this sociological study reflects the true state of affairs. 🙋

Sociologists surveyed 4,506 people. Who are these people? How do they interact with the gambling industry? Do these people understand that prediction platforms can serve as oracles of truth? Do they understand that such bets can prevent voter fraud in political elections?

To what extent can this study objectively demonstrate that the majority of Americans are against betting on political outcomes? A majority of Americans is over 150 million people, not 4,506. America has dozens of different states, each home to different people with different beliefs. Was this taken into account when designing this study?

Overall, in my opinion, this news leaves more questions than it answers. 🧑‍💻

[uneng]

As the saying goes: "There are lies, there are damned lies, and then there are statistics!" No, I don't think this sociological study reflects the true state of affairs. 🙋

Sociologists surveyed 4,506 people. Who are these people? How do they interact with the gambling industry? Do these people understand that prediction platforms can serve as oracles of truth? Do they understand that such bets can prevent voter fraud in political elections?

To what extent can this study objectively demonstrate that the majority of Americans are against betting on political outcomes? A majority of Americans is over 150 million people, not 4,506. America has dozens of different states, each home to different people with different beliefs. Was this taken into account when designing this study?

Overall, in my opinion, this news leaves more questions than it answers. 🧑‍💻

Statistics follow a scientifical method to reach accurate results which represent the reality through sampling. They don't take random people on the streets or on the internet to answer to the survey. They carefully select samplings from different segments of society, taking different criteria into consideration, like regions/neighborhoods where participants live, income of the family, age, educational background and so on...

The four thousand individuals are a sampling in minor scale of the country's population. Political surveys follow the same method, and as we can see, they reflect the outcomes of an election.

Anyway, it's completely understandable that sympathy for gambling is decreasing these days with so much manipulation going on the political global scene and intrusive ads everywhere.

[YOSHIE]

The title of the topic in full: Most Americans oppose betting on elections, government events, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

Personally I support and agree with what the American public is doing to oppose betting on elections, the reason is simple, perhaps we have seen some real reasons that have occurred in the prediction market for the results of election betting manipulation.

Some researchers say Prediction markets shift US election odds on small bets, researchers say, I really agree, if the US and Europe make official regulations prohibiting direct election betting and these regulations apply to all prediction market sites, without exception.

[Zlantann]

But the result of the bet can only be known after the election result are out. And I don’t think people will have to know who other people bet on to win, it’s just the normal way the voting count are done. but in this case, bettors could just gamble on who is going to win, and not necessarily show others who they had their bet on. I don’t think it can actually influence the final result or even the process of voting or people choice rather.

The result of the predictions on each platform is always public. They will show who is ahead and how many percent each candidate has even before the resluts is announced. This new study finds that people can be influenced to vote for a candidate based on the statistics of these prediction market projects. Since some people can be influenced by the polls, politicians can manipulate the market to their favor.  

Any voter whose vote is influenced by a gambling platform is ignorant. Votes should be cast for qualified candidates who deserve it and not because Polymarket or Kalshi says they are popular.