Spotlight Online betting scandals are getting worse. Will Congress intervene? Zachary Schermele USA Today May 4, 2026 18 hrs ago 0 × Straight Arrow News Polymarket is stepping up oversight after prosecutors charged a U.S. soldier with using classified information to bet on a military operation. Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save WASHINGTON — As scandals continue to plague popular online betting platforms, calls to intervene grow louder within Congress.kAmr@?EC@G6CD:6D =2DE >@?E9 — 7C@> A@=:E:42= 42?5:52E6D AC@7:E:?8 7C@> E96:C @H? 42>A2:8?D E@ 2 D@=5:6CVD 2==6865 36E @? 2 >2;@C >:=:E2CJ @A6C2E:@? — AC@>AE65 2 F?2?:>@FD pAC:= b_ 564:D:@? E@ 492?86 E96 $6?2E6VD CF=6D] $6?2E@CD 2?5 E96:C DE277 >6>36CD H6C6 32??65 7C@> EC25:?8 @? AC65:4E:@? >2C<6ED[ H96C6 A6@A=6 42? 3FJ 2?5 D6== 36ED @?=:?6 @? 7FEFC6 6G6?ED]k^AmkAm$6?] y@9? rFCE:D[ #\&E29[ G@H65 E92E :E H2D ;FDE E96 368:??:?8 @7 2 ?6H H2G6 @7 7656C2= D4CFE:?J] }6IE @? E96 =68:D=2E:G6 286?52[ 96 D2:5[ H@F=5 36 AC@9:3:E:?8 2== 8@G6C?>6?E @77:4:2=D 7C@> FD:?8 :?D:56C :?7@C>2E:@? E@ 36E @? AC65:4E:@? >2C<6E 4@?EC24ED]k^Am People are also reading… Update: Old Fort man killed in motorcycle crash on I-40 identified 1 person killed in motorcycle crash on I-40 eastbound near Old Fort Marion man charged with burglary and kidnapping after woman held against her will in home McDowell County Sheriff’s Office searching for missing classic car This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer Reports: NC Rep. Chuck Edwards under investigation for sexual harassment claims Duke basketball makes history with Amazon Prime deal, schedules marquee matchups McDowell Chamber of Commerce holds annual gala, awarding top businesses, leaders McDowell Express expanding on-demand app-based transit to Old Fort Rotary Club of Marion honors three Students of the Week from McDowell schools Investigators allege friends of NASCAR's Greg Biffle stole from his home after plane crash This WNC family lost their home in Hurricane Helene. 19 months later, they're getting a new one. McDowell County native started mowing lawns at 15. 5 years later, he has a business, employees 'Energy is not a luxury': Duke Energy customers speak on price increase at hearing High school students raised about 50 trout, released them at South Mountains State Park kAmQxE D9@F=5 36 6G6CJ3@5J[Q $6?] y2>6D {2?<7@C5[ #\~<=2][ E@=5 &$p %@52J] Q$E2CE:?8 H:E9 >6>36CD W@7 r@?8C6DDX]Qk^AmkAmpC<2?D2D #6A] uC6?49 w:==[ E96 #6AF3=:42? 492:C>2? @7 9:D 492>36CVD u:?2?4:2= $6CG:46D r@>>:EE66[ D2:5 E96 w@FD6 @7 #6AC6D6?E2E:G6D :D =@@<:?8 2E AC@9:3:E:@?D 7@C :ED =2H>2<6CD D:>:=2C E@ H92E E96 $6?2E6 A2DD65] w6 6IA64ED E96 6I64FE:G6 3C2?49 E@ C6G:6H :ED CF=6D[ E@@]k^Am Scandals involving online prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket ramped up pressure on Congress to act. Alan Nguyen, USA Today illustration kAmq:==D H6C6 :?EC@5F465 :? C646?E >@?E9D D66<:?8 E@ C6:? :? E96 A=2E7@C>D[ J6E 2 4@>A=:42E65 =682= 2?5 A@=:E:42= =2?5D42A6 =:6D 29625]k^Am kAm$E2E6D 2?5 EC:32= 8@G6C?>6?ED 2C6 :? 2? @?8@:?8 32EE=6 H:E9 2 7656C2= 286?4J 23@FE H9@ 92D E96 AC:>2CJ 2FE9@C:EJ E@ C68F=2E6 E96 6?E:E:6D] r@?8C6DD[ 92>A6C65 3J v~! :?7:89E:?8[ DECF88=65 =2E6=J E@ 5@ 6G6? 32D:4 =68:D=2E:?8 — =6E 2=@?6 255 >@C6 E@ :ED A=2E6] p?5 !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>AVD 4@>A=:42E65 E:6D E@ E96 :?5FDECJ H@?VE >2<6 AFCDF:?8 C68F=2E@CJ 677@CED 62D:6C]k^Am kAm$E:==[ $6?] #:492C5 q=F>6?E92=[ s\r@??][ D2:5 E96C6VD 2 Q8@@5 492?46Q r@?8C6DD H:== 86E >@C6 :?G@=G65 @? E96 :DDF6] Q!C65:4E:@? >2C<6ED 4CJ @FE 7@C D@>6 <:?5 @7 =68:D=2E:G6 :?E6CG6?E:@?[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am kAm$A@<6DA6@A=6 7@C z2=D9: 2?5 !@=J>2C<6E[ E96 EH@ 3:886DE AC65:4E:@? >2C<6ED[ A@:?E65 E@ @?=:?6 DE2E6>6?ED :? DFAA@CE @7 32??:?8 =2H>2<6CD 7C@> :?D:56C EC25:?8 @? E96:C A=2E7@C>D[ H9:49 E96J D2:5 :D 2=C625J AC@9:3:E65]k^AmkAm!@=J>2C<6E E649?:42==J AC@9:3:ED p>6C:42?D 7C@> FD:?8 :ED >2:? A=2E7@C>[ 3FE >2?J FD6CD 7:?5 4C62E:G6 H2JD E@ 2AA62C @?=:?6 2D :7 E96JVC6 @FED:56 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[ H9:49 AC6D6?E65 2 3:8 AC@3=6> 7@C 7656C2= C68F=2E@CD] k^Am Most Polymarket traders lost money while a small group captured the majority of profits. Benzinga - News k9amp C@4<J >@?E9 7@C AC65:4E:@? >2C<6EDk^9am kAmx? E96 7:CDE H66< @7 pAC:=[ !@=J>2C<6E H2D 7@C465 E@ AF3=:4=J 2A@=@8:K6 7@C 2==@H:?8 FD6CD E@ A=246 36ED @? E96 72E6D @7 EH@ &]$] A:=@ED 27E6C E96:C ;6E 4C2D965 :? xC2?] #6A] $6E9 |@F=E@?[ s\|2DD][ H9@ 7:CDE 3C@F89E 2EE6?E:@? E@ E96 :?4:56?E @? D@4:2= >65:2[ 42==65 :E Q5:D8FDE:?8]Qk^Am kAm~? pAC:= aa[ z2=D9: 7:?65 2?5 DFDA6?565 E9C66 A@=:E:42= 42?5:52E6D 7C@> :ED A=2E7@C> 7@C ECJ:?8 E@ 82:? 7:?2?4:2==J 7C@> E96:C @H? AC:>2CJ 42>A2:8?D] ~?6 @7 E96 42?5:52E6D[ ':C8:?:2VD |2C< |@C2?[ D2:5 96 36E @? 9:>D6=7 ;F>A:?8 :? E96 C246 7@C $6?2E6 3642FD6 96 H2?E65 E@ 86E 42F89E 2?5 6IA@D6 9@H z2=D9: :D QC:76 H:E9 4@CCFAE:@?]Qk^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmp 52J =2E6C[ E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46 244FD65 2? pC>J D@=5:6C @7 :==682==J AC@7:E:?8 @77 E96 42AEFC6 @7 @FDE65 '6?6KF6=2? !C6D:56?E }:4@=áD |25FC@] %96 D@=5:6C[ v2??@? z6? '2? sJ<6[ A2CE:4:A2E65 :? E96 A=2??:?8 7@C |25FC@VD 42AEFC6 2?5 2==6865=J >256 >@C6 E92? Sc__[___ 3J 36EE:?8 @? E96 E:>:?8 @7 E96 @A6C2E:@?] w6 A=62565 ?@E 8F:=EJ E@ :?D:56C EC25:?8 492C86D]k^AmkAm%96 :?4:56?E H2D 2 Q567:?:E6 ?2E:@?2= D64FC:EJ E9C62E[Q D2:5 q=F>6?E92=[ 2 |2C:?6 r@CAD G6E6C2?]k^Am Crime-courts Justice Department charges soldier accused of betting $400,000 on Maduro removal Jasper Ward Reuters k9am#68F=2E@CJ 7:89Ek^9am kAm~?6 @7 E96 3:886DE 32CC:6CD E@ 7FCE96C C68F=2E:?8 AC65:4E:@? >2C<6ED :D 2 7:89E @G6C H9@ 92D A@H6C @G6C E96>]k^Am kAm%96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E D2JD :EVD E96 r@>>@5:EJ uFEFC6D %C25:?8 r@>>:DD:@?] %96 ru%r EJA:42==J 92D 2 3:A2CE:D2? 7:G6\A6CD@? 4@>>:DD:@?[ 3FE :? 2 9:DE@C:4 D9:7E D:?46 %CF>AVD C6EFC? E@ E96 (9:E6 w@FD6[ :E 92D @?=J @?6i 2 492:C>2? ?2>65 |:4926= $6=:8]k^AmkAm%9@F89 $6=:8 D2:5 96VD 4@>>:EE65 E@ AC6G6?E:?8 :?D:56C EC25:?8[ 9:D E@?6 E@H2C5 AC65:4E:@? >2C<6ED H2D =6DD E92? 288C6DD:G6] Q(6’C6 ?@E 2 >6C:E A@=:46>2? E92E A:4<D 2?5 49@@D6D H9:49 4@?EC24ED A6@A=6 D9@F=5 @C D9@F=5 ?@E 36 23=6 E@ EC256[Q 96 D2:5 C646?E=J]k^Am kAm$E2E6D 2?5 EC:32= 8@G6C?>6?ED D66< E@ E2<6 6?7@C46>6?E 24E:@?D 282:?DE AC65:4E:@? >2C<6ED] %96J 3642>6 :?G@=G65 :? 5@K6?D @7 =2HDF:ED 282:?DE E96 ru%r D:?46 =2DE J62C[ 2C8F:?8 E96J 92G6 2FE9@C:EJ @G6C A=2E7@C>D E92E[ :? E96:C G:6H[ 2C6 6DD6?E:2==J 7@C>D @7 82>3=:?8]k^Am kAm%96 9:89\DE2<6D BF6DE:@?D 2E E96 46?E6C @7 E96 DH2C> @7 =:E:82E:@? F=E:>2E6=J >2J 6?5 FA 367@C6 E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE]k^Am President Donald Trump is seen talking with Donald Trump Jr. during an April 11 UFC fight. Sam Navarro, Imagn Images k9am%96 %CF>A 724E@Ck^9amkAm%CF>AVD 4=@D6 4@??64E:@?D E@ E96 :?5FDECJ 2=D@ >F55=6D 677@CED :? r@?8C6DD E@ 4C24< 5@H? @? AC65:4E:@? >2C<6ED]k^Am kAm(9:=6 %CF>A D2:5 96VD Q?@E 92AAJ H:E9 2?J @7 E92E DEF77[Q 9:D @H? D@?[ s@?2=5 %CF>A yC][ D6CG65 2D 2? 25G:D6C E@ z2=D9: 2?5 !@=J>2C<6E] %CFE9 $@4:2=[ E96 AC6D:56?EVD D@4:2= >65:2 4@>A2?J[ 6G6? =2F?4965 2 762EFC6 =2DE J62C 42==65 %CFE9 !C65:4E]k^AmkAmp== E9@D6 E:6D 5@?VE D66> E@ 92G6 3=:?565 E96 AC6D:56?E E@ E96 @?=:?6 36EE:?8 H@C=5VD :==D[ H9:49 96 =2>6?E65 C646?E=J E@ C6A@CE6CD]k^Am kAmQ%96 H9@=6 H@C=5[ F?7@CEF?2E6=J[ 92D 364@>6 D@>6H92E @7 2 42D:?@[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am Columnists Are we turning too much of life into a wager? | The Ethical Life podcast Scott Rada Football Brendan Sorsby's gambling addiction a symptom of our broader illness | Opinion Nancy Armour USA TODAY 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Polymarket expands trade monitoring after insider betting case tied to Maduro raid Polymarket is stepping up oversight after prosecutors charged a U.S. soldier with using classified information to bet on a military operation. Watch Now: Related Video Rudy Giuliani hospitalized in Florida in critical condition Donald Trump ‘doesn’t think’ about past assassination attempts Donald Trump ‘doesn’t think’ about past assassination attempts Meet Himdam, Southern Arizona's traveling ocelot Meet Himdam, Southern Arizona's traveling ocelot Polymarket expands trade monitoring after insider betting case tied to Maduro raid Polymarket expands trade monitoring after insider betting case tied to Maduro raid Recommended for you
Crime-courts Justice Department charges soldier accused of betting $400,000 on Maduro removal Jasper Ward Reuters
Football Brendan Sorsby's gambling addiction a symptom of our broader illness | Opinion Nancy Armour USA TODAY
Polymarket expands trade monitoring after insider betting case tied to Maduro raid Polymarket is stepping up oversight after prosecutors charged a U.S. soldier with using classified information to bet on a military operation.
