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

[danadc]

Regarding the elections, although they're two years away, which seems like a long time, I thought Trump would do better, but I see he hasn't improved much. However, if elections are held, there's a chance Donald Trump's team won't win.

I say this from my perspective living here; everything is very difficult, and healthcare is more expensive. No one can afford to get sick here because it's so costly, and insurance is practically impossible to pay for. I think the poll lacks some population data to produce those results.

[M47AK16]

The survey might not accurate as we don't know that is real or fake. The 4.506 people will not represent all people in the US so we don't need that service. Election should not be used as betting but we can't say that because some of them want to make money from election.

If in a country prohibit gambling, people will not bet on their country but they could search for other ways that allow to bet.

That is how the polls get done; you do not ask 400 million people a question and wait for the answer, hell most of them do not even vote on the elections they could. USA has like 65% or so voter turnout, which proves that most people do not even vote. I mean, you can never have 100% because of people who are incapable of voting, elderly, the sick, etc etc. But you could get over 80%+ easily, and even reach 85%+ in some countries without, like, "Russia 110% voted" type of thing, an actual democracy. People just... don't want to vote.

So in a world where there are already so many people who do not want to even go to vote, how are you going to get them to poll? The simplest way would be just calling up a few thousand people; EVERY poll you see is getting done that way, just a few thousand people at a time.

[Chinesebaby]

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.

I also check the voting statistic on "Professional Sport", and I'm even surprised that the number of people voting against it are also high, regardless that professional sport has absolutely nothing to do with politics. And to me, i think maybe this poll was done at random to get people's opinion regarding the prediction of political positions on prediction markets, due to the fear that those politicians could bet on themselves and manipulate the result. And secondly, enabling a bet on elections, could make those in charge of the electoral voting manipulate results to be in favour of their prefered candidate.

[Ronsbit]

If the American citizens kicks against betting on the listed subject matter then there are reasons why they have taken such decisions which we all know about. There has been events which went viral involving top government officials and politicians in the betting market even military officers who were caught by prediction market for using information that ought to be classified in the prediction market at their own benefit. It is very absurd and a cheating to the betting community and bet companies as well. So it they put up such resolve to not allow betting on the subject matter then let their wish be granted.

[Gozie51]

And secondly, enabling a bet on elections, could make those in charge of the electoral voting manipulate results to be in favour of their prefered candidate.

How?

I don't think this is happening except you have a confirmation to that. Betting on the next president is just a test of the popularity of the people contesting the position. Those who are in charge of American president are closely monitored, if there is manipulation then it will be as difficult as picking out the strand of hair because America has a strong system that won't be easily broken for manipulation. During the election of Trump and Harris, it was clear that predictions and real voting correspond that Trump had the lead.

So the manipulation for a losing candidate on prediction is not easy in real and actual result.

[Aanuoluwatofunmi]

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.

We cannot establish the accuracy of the results because they have just given us a statistics that cannot be verified, however I will also join in support to kick against this because many are actually getting it wrong gambling on political affairs and I think those that are mostly concerned are not even the gambling casino's but the prediction sites, which should not be trusted with the way you can do everything with what they do on their various platforms.

[AlexSnowSnow]

Not sure a ban would be the answer, because it raises questions about the free speech Americans like so much. Election markets are also another independent source showing which way the wind is blowing. For some people it's just fun, so I don't know.

[Emitdama]

Regarding the elections, although they're two years away, which seems like a long time, I thought Trump would do better, but I see he hasn't improved much. However, if elections are held, there's a chance Donald Trump's team won't win.

I say this from my perspective living here; everything is very difficult, and healthcare is more expensive. No one can afford to get sick here because it's so costly, and insurance is practically impossible to pay for. I think the poll lacks some population data to produce those results.

I avoid betting on anything that's not within a week so to bet on elections that are years away is not something I would do. I did bet on elections one time but that was pure hype and I bet around the last day or so and didn't have to wait much for the result. I still remember the drama that happened around it, where Trump refused to leave the office and sportsbooks held the winnings because of all the uncertainty.

I wouldn't bet on an event that's years away unless I see some great odds and a solid reason to back it up, and in cases where I assume the odds are going to drop drastically. It's like betting on the NBA final 2 months in advance; I'd rather bet on the next games themselves than the winner market outright.

[JunaidAzizi]

I think we have to come out of the betting madness and understand that not everything is worth betting on. Elections are something where we need real data and purity, if that is manipulated, then what is the reason for elections? What if someone involved in the election gets insider news and places bets according to it? Then he will change the whole election results, and for democracy, it will be a cause for concern. The survey made the right decision by not allowing betting on elections for fair results.

[Ojima-ojo]

If the American citizens kicks against betting on the listed subject matter then there are reasons why they have taken such decisions which we all know about. There has been events which went viral involving top government officials and politicians in the betting market even military officers who were caught by prediction market for using information that ought to be classified in the prediction market at their own benefit. It is very absurd and a cheating to the betting community and bet companies as well. So it they put up such resolve to not allow betting on the subject matter then let their wish be granted.

Stopping insiders betting is the Major reason why citizens kick against betting of top US election results, you know why, because those that have the privilege to get classified information could use it as advantage to stake and win a very huge amount that can possible drain the liquidity of the casino or predictions market they place such bet on, the incident of cheating is indeed the major concern of those citizens.

[Agbe]

But you can't and nobody can separate general election in any country from gambling. It has been like that and nobody can remove it. Because politics is a game of luck and whoever play the card well wins the election. Like this there will be a presidential election in my country next year February and there is no guarantee for the rulling party to win the election and when a poll come out,

And if who against the election inclusion in the prediction market is more then this is another information that the gamblers there are few and the none gamblers are more than the gamblers. And what I can against for the prediction market is the inclusion of the security activities in the State. That is a sensitive information and if it is expose in the internet the enemies can use it it against the security.

[Ronsbit]

If the American citizens kicks against betting on the listed subject matter then there are reasons why they have taken such decisions which we all know about. There has been events which went viral involving top government officials and politicians in the betting market even military officers who were caught by prediction market for using information that ought to be classified in the prediction market at their own benefit. It is very absurd and a cheating to the betting community and bet companies as well. So it they put up such resolve to not allow betting on the subject matter then let their wish be granted.

Stopping insiders betting is the Major reason why citizens kick against betting of top US election results, you know why, because those that have the privilege to get classified information could use it as advantage to stake and win a very huge amount that can possible drain the liquidity of the casino or predictions market they place such bet on, the incident of cheating is indeed the major concern of those citizens.

By the way it is unethical to even do that because that alone could influence elections and causes manipulation of electioneering processes just to get somebody as a winner and the bettors too to win their bets. Such move by the citizens is just to salvage the electioneering processes to avoid further escalations which would makes it feel like they are being used by officials to manipulate the prediction and betting market in their own favour because they have classified information on which they can act upon in their favour to make good profit from.

[Curious T]

It's normal for people to vote like this. Nobody wants any form of interference in their election. Casuals feel that as long as people bet on the election, it can be manipulated. The fact that many people believe it doesn't make it true. There are things that can be manipulated because people bet on them, but an election is too big to be manipulated for the sake of bets. Whoever is able to manipulate an election isn't doing it for gambling's sake. There is so much more they stand to gain. The only problem I see is that those with insider knowledge can act on it, and it would be difficult to track, but you can say this for almost everything that is available on prediction markets.

[Hispo]

Not sure a ban would be the answer, because it raises questions about the free speech Americans like so much. Election markets are also another independent source showing which way the wind is blowing. For some people it's just fun, so I don't know.

I do not think a ban would be the answer either, and it would be quite ironic if there was a ban on political betting in the United States, considering it is called "land of the free", and yet they seem not to be as free as they claim.

Anyways... Political betting it is here to stay, that is something the public and the general population of the United States needs to accept, whether they like it or not, there is nothing wrong when it comes to betting on politics. Next logical step would be to clarify regulations and laws in order to have access to those betting markets and also leave insiders outside of those same markets, so betting on them becomes as fair as possible.

Just because a majority of people of a country does not like something, it does not mean it is supposed to be outlawed. That is my opinion, at least.