Trump's Truth Social pushes gambling with launch of "prediction market"

Washington DC - President Donald Trump's Truth Social announced Tuesday that it will allow users to make bets on the outcome of real-world events using the platform.

President Donald Trump social media platform, Truth Social, will allow betting on so-called "prediction markets."  © KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP

Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG) is capitalizing on a form of betting that has surged in popularity, with phone-based apps that allow users to wager on topics ranging from politics and the economy, to sports and entertainment.

Truth Social will add betting through a partnership with Crypto.com, allowing users to bet on "elections, interest rates and inflation rate changes, commodity prices on gold and crude oil," or events from "all major sports leagues," according to a statement.

Federal authorities don't consider so-called "prediction markets" to be gambling, per se, and as such they are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and not by state gambling authorities across the US, as lotteries and casinos typically are.

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To secure a wager, the user purchases a "contract" for a financial product that yields a profit if the event occurs – whether it's the election of a candidate or the victory of a sports team.

The new sector has is considered so ripe for profits that earlier this month the New York Stock Exchange's operator, Intercontinental Exchange, announced a $2 billion investment in one of the most prominent platforms, Polymarket.

Prediction apps are particularly popular among young adults, which has raised concerns about the risks of addiction and financial losses.

TMTG has launched several projects, including cryptocurrency-related financial products and a video streaming platform, but generated only $1.7 million in revenue in the first half of 2025.

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At the same time, it reported a net loss of $51.7 million, according to documents published by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

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