New York City Council Investigates Four Major Prediction Market Platforms Including Polymarket, Focusing on Risks Related to Advertising and Forced Betting

The New York City Council is investigating the advertising practices of prediction market platforms Polymarket, Kalshi, Coinbase, and Titan, a prediction market platform under Gemini, as the prediction market industry faces new regulatory pressure. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin has sent letters of inquiry to the four platforms as part of the legislative investigation, to assess whether existing city laws sufficiently protect residents from false or deceptive marketing. Additionally, the council is reviewing relevant policies to address issues such as prediction market products possibly inducing users to engage in "forced speculation" on event contracts. In its letter to Polymarket, the council noted that the investigation not only covers allegations against the platform but will also evaluate the prevalence of similar marketing practices across the entire prediction market industry and their potential social harms.