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(AsiaGameHub) –   A recent Morning Consult poll reveals that a majority of Americans consider the event contracts offered by prediction markets to be equivalent to gambling and are concerned they may cause greater harm, particularly to younger participants. 

These results echo a prior survey which indicated Americans tend to categorize prediction markets more as betting than as investing. 

The poll was sponsored by Gambling Is Not Investing, a coalition opposed to prediction markets and headed by former U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney. The group states its aim is to “stop prediction markets from offering unsafe and unregulated sports event contracts that bypass state and tribal laws.”

Poll data shows 81% of respondents identified sports betting on prediction markets as gambling. Meanwhile, 77% were worried about platforms permitting teenagers to wager on sports, believing this could heighten gambling-related issues for young adults compared to traditional sportsbooks that enforce a minimum age of 21. 

An additional 81% of participants either strongly or somewhat agreed that prediction markets must comply with state gaming rules, covering age limits, tax frameworks, and problem gambling mandates.

In a statement releasing the poll findings, Mulvaney commented:

“This polling confirms that unabated sports gambling on prediction markets is a growing concern across America. Prediction markets are trying to disguise their sports betting products as a financial investment, misleading Americans and dodging consumer safeguards like age requirements. Let’s face it, if it quacks like a duck, it’s sports betting.”

Survey Shows Strong Support for Sports Betting Regulations

The topline report states that 15,029 U.S. adults were surveyed between March 17 and 22. It found 73% of those polled think that employing terms such as “event contracts,” “swaps,” or “futures” for sports betting obscures the financial risks involved with prediction markets, a confusion they said is amplified for youth. 

Furthermore, 79% of surveyed individuals stated that prediction markets offering sports event contracts should be mandated to supply the same problem gambling support tools as licensed sportsbooks. 

An examination of the questionnaire’s structure suggests the framing of questions aligns with the agenda of the Gambling Is Not Investing Coalition. 

Multiple questions draw a direct comparison between prediction markets and state-regulated sportsbooks and mention teenagers betting on sports, without noting that platform users typically must be 18. 

Some queries also employ leading language; one example asks if using financial jargon like “swaps” or “futures” makes it “more difficult” to perceive risks. This phrasing presumes an existing hurdle instead of employing neutral wording. 

Capitol Hill Keeps Up Pressure on Prediction Markets

Prediction markets are under growing examination in Congress as legislators aim to control these event contract exchanges. Just in the past week, three distinct bills targeting the industry from various perspectives were introduced. 

• The PREDICT Act would prohibit Congress members, high-ranking federal officials, and other designated personnel from trading specific prediction market contracts.
• The Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026 would prevent government officials from profiting on event contracts using non-public information.
• The STOP Corrupt Bets Act would outlaw prediction market contracts related to elections, armed conflict, government activities, and sports.

On March 30, legislators also intensified calls for action, sending a letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the U.S. Office of Government Ethics urging a clampdown on what they called illegal insider trading in prediction markets by federal employees.