Online Prediction Platforms Now Allow Users to Wager on US Public Health Crises

Prediction platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi have expanded their offerings to include public health outcomes. Users can now place wagers on events like FDA drug approvals, CDC recommendations, and the number of measles cases in the US. Experts and researchers warn that these prediction markets operate largely unregulated by exploiting a loophole that classifies them as financial derivatives rather than traditional gambling. Critics point out that these bets could incentivize people with nonpublic information to leak details or even influence drug trials and health policies for financial gain.