Polymarket defends allowing bets on US strike on Iran as "invaluable"
Feb 28th 2026
Polymarket says its prediction markets give answers TV and social media cannot after it allowed betting on the timing of a US strike on Iran and faced backlash following the attack.
- Polymarket hosted prediction markets on when the US would strike Iran.
- A US strike has occurred and caused fatalities, increasing public scrutiny of those markets.
- The company said prediction markets harness crowd wisdom and are invaluable during crises.
- Polymarket contrasted its approach with TV news and Elon Musk's X in its statement.
- The platform has faced earlier controversies over suspected insider trading on events like the Super Bowl halftime show and the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
- Reporters have contacted Polymarket asking for clarification on policies about betting on violence, suffering, war, and death.