Polymarket, the online prediction‑market platform, has removed a betting market that allowed users to wager on whether Cornell University students accused of rape would face felony charges. The decision came after the market had accumulated more than $450,000 in trading volume.
The removed market was listed on Polymarket’s international platform and attracted significant attention from users who could trade on the likelihood of criminal proceedings against the students. The platform’s policy review led to the market’s removal once it had reached the noted volume threshold.
Polymarket is known for offering users the ability to place bets on a wide range of real‑world events, from political outcomes to corporate earnings. The company has previously taken action against markets that it deems to violate its terms of service or that could be considered exploitative.
Cornell University, a private Ivy League institution located in Ithaca, New York, has been the subject of a high‑profile criminal investigation following accusations of rape. The betting market in question had focused on the potential felony charges that could be brought against the accused students.
While the platform has not released further details on its decision‑making process, the removal of the market underscores the growing scrutiny of prediction markets that allow wagering on sensitive legal and criminal matters.
<small>Source: PBS NewsHour — read the original story there.</small>
