Šimon Vincze, Casino Guru’s head of sustainable and safer gambling, discussed prediction markets at iGB L!VE 2026. He said users need to understand how the products work, their risks and the probabilities involved, and called for clear risk information and effective consumer protections.
Operators and regulators face calls to make prediction-market risks clearer to users.
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European Lotteries argues that prediction markets carrying comparable risks should face equivalent protections. The association says these products can straddle financial services and gambling as they expand across Europe.
US state election officials are considering safeguards as trading on 2026 elections grows on platforms including Kalshi and Polymarket. Proposals include restrictions on election workers’ trading and public education about market prices. Court disputes continue over states’ authority to regulate prediction markets under gambling laws.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Innovation Advisory Committee discussed prediction-market contracts at its first meeting in Washington on 20 August, the report said. Participants debated self-certification of new contracts, with CME Group chief executive Terry Duffy saying about 2,500 had been submitted since January 2025 without opposition. The discussion followed a CFTC emergency order requiring Kalshi to continue serving New York customers after a state lawsuit alleged it operated an illegal gambling business.
Derek Stevens, owner of Circa Sports, criticised prediction market operators including Kalshi and Polymarket, saying they hold an unfair advantage over licensed sportsbooks. He argued that businesses competing for the same customers should face comparable regulation. Stevens also raised differences in consumer safeguards, including age minimums and responsible gambling protections.
It was reported that Fanatics Betting and Gaming’s responsible gaming head criticised sports prediction markets. The executive argued they lack safeguards required of state-licensed gambling operators.