(AsiaGameHub) -   When questioned regarding prediction markets, the majority of Americans associate them with sportsbooks rather than Wall Street, according to a recent survey commissioned by the American Institute for Boys and Men and carried out by Ipsos. The findings indicate that 61% of Americans viewed purchasing event contracts on prediction markets as more akin to gambling, while only 8% considered it more similar to investing. Among those acquainted with prediction markets, a vast majority (91%) deemed the purchase of event contracts financially hazardous, with numerous respondents categorizing it alongside cryptocurrency investment and sports wagering in terms of risk. Despite recent widespread attention on prediction markets and their involvement in notable collaborations, such as Polymarket providing betting odds for the Golden Globes, the survey revealed that public familiarity with these platforms remains limited. Just 21% of participants indicated they were very or somewhat familiar with prediction markets, in contrast to 35% for online sports betting and 42% for cryptocurrency. This disparity indicates that, although the sector is expanding quickly, it has yet to reach the level of cultural awareness or economic impact seen in the more established gambling and digital asset industries. Young Men Demonstrate Higher Usage Rates of Prediction Markets While the survey indicated that overall familiarity with prediction markets was low among Americans, this familiarity was somewhat elevated among young men, with nearly one-third (29%) indicating they were familiar with these platforms. Young men also demonstrated a significantly higher likelihood of using prediction markets compared to older demographics. Over the past six months, 26% of young men indicated they had used at least one platform for sports betting, daily fantasy, or prediction markets, in contrast to only 14% of the broader population. Respondents' motivations for engaging with prediction markets were divided between entertainment and financial gain: Entertainment: 50% of users identified entertainment as their primary motivation for participation. Financial Gain: 41% indicated they used the platforms mainly to generate profit. Although the majority of respondents perceive prediction markets as a form of gambling, young men were somewhat less inclined to share this view, with 47% of men aged 18 to 24 considering event contracts more akin to gambling, while 25% regarded them as a hybrid of gambling and investing. In general, individuals in the 18-to-34 age range were less inclined than any other demographic to categorize event contracts as gambling. Americans Prefer Regulation to Outright Bans While states such as Arizona are taking steps to restrict or eliminate these platforms, the poll indicates that many Americans prefer regulatory oversight to complete prohibition. The majority of respondents expressed a desire to see prediction markets integrated into current regulatory structures and felt that establishing entirely new frameworks is unnecessary. Gambling Model: 59% support regulation akin to online sports betting, which includes age restrictions of 21 and above and state-level governance. Financial Model: 52% endorse regulation similar to financial trading, featuring an age minimum of 18 and federal supervision. Prohibition: 25% of the overall population thinks making prediction markets unlawful is advisable. The survey revealed that the majority lacked confidence in prediction markets' ability to prevent insider trading on their platforms: 39% expressed they were "not at all confident," and 22% reported being "not too confident." A mere 2% characterized themselves as very confident, and 7% as somewhat confident, in the platforms' capacity to prevent individuals from unfairly benefiting from privileged information. Regarding whether Americans consider prediction markets beneficial to society, a mere 4% responded affirmatively, in contrast to 52% who viewed traditional stock market investing as beneficial to society. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) -   Prediction markets might be facing legal challenges from all angles, yet that hasn’t halted them from directly making their case to the public. The latest illustration comes from Polymarket.  The company is poised to bring its brand into the physical realm this weekend, with a Washington, D.C. pop-up named The Situation Room by Polymarket. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, the event contract exchange characterized its initiative as “the world’s first bar dedicated to monitoring the situation,” noting the grand opening would occur this Friday.  Based on Polymarket’s posts, the venue will have the vibe of a high-energy sports bar combined with the data-driven intensity of a global command center. Like most prediction market activations, Polymarket’s Situation Room will be temporary.  Still, anyone familiar with D.C. will note the platform may have a smart strategy by choosing this location for a bar centered on breaking news, politics, and real-time reaction. The city is filled with policy enthusiasts and well-connected residents deeply immersed in politics and foreign policy, making the concept a natural fit.  Imagine a sports bar… but just for situation monitoring — live X feeds, flight radar, Bloomberg terminals, and Polymarket screens. pic.twitter.com/8dDUDVriq9— Polymarket (@Polymarket) March 18, 2026 Social Media Sleuths Identify Secret Venue Polymarket was tight-lipped about the location of its Situation Room, but it didn’t remain a secret for long. Following the teaser post, online investigators set to work matching the renderings to an actual bar in the nation’s capital.  At least two X users, @tylercmorris and @BarredinDC, quickly identified the venue as Proper 21 on K Street by analyzing the bar’s exterior, including the façade and large columns near the bar area.  Some strong evidence this is a takeover of Proper 21 on K Street, sleuthed by @tylercmorris @BarredinDC-It’s a sports bar whose owners are involved in crypto-No reservations available Fri-Sun -Renderings show similar exterior and those same big columns near the bar https://t.co/aJCcevXqnU— Jessica Sidman (@jsidman) March 18, 2026 Later that day, the speculation ended when Proper 21 confirmed to NBC News that it would indeed host Polymarket’s Situation Room pop-up. According to that report, the Polymarket takeover will run from Friday night through Sunday.  While Polymarket shared limited details about its upcoming activation, based on the images and disclosed information, the Situation Room appears to be a haven for information enthusiasts.  Rather than standard sports broadcasts, the bar will feature screens showing X feeds, flight radar data, Bloomberg terminals, and real-time Polymarket betting odds.  The aesthetic teased in Polymarket’s announcement evokes a “war room” feel, where patrons can enjoy a drink while tracking global events via holographic-style globes and data-rich pillars. It’s clearly a strategic move targeting the D.C. crowd, where being informed is paramount.  Prediction Markets Test Real-World Pop-Ups Polymarket’s D.C. takeover isn’t an isolated event; it’s part of a broader charm offensive by major prediction markets. Earlier this year, both Polymarket and its primary competitor, Kalshi, launched high-profile grocery giveaways in New York City, transforming their rivalry into a real-world branding contest.  Kalshi initiated the effort with a promotion covering $50 of shoppers’ grocery bills during a one-day takeover at Westside Market. Polymarket responded with a temporary free grocery pop-up branded The Polymarket, accompanied by a $1 million donation to Food Bank For New York City. These philanthropic endeavors come as prediction markets continue to face legal challenges. On March 17, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced the first-ever criminal charges against Kalshi, accusing it of “running an illegal gambling operation and taking bets on Arizona elections.”  The Arizona case is just one of numerous legal battles unfolding as courts and regulators debate jurisdiction over these platforms: whether it lies with the states, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or both.  The Situation Room by Polymarket seems to be the next iteration of the same strategy: a short-term, high-visibility pop-up designed to convert online attention into real-world interest.  This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) -   A new survey from Truist Securities revealed that in states with both legal sports betting and prediction markets, most bettors favor DraftKings Sportsbook over Kalshi. Respondents were queried about the “best product spanning both online sports wagering and prediction markets,” with the following results: DraftKings Sportsbook — 20% Kalshi — 17% FanDuel Sportsbook — 15% “Reasons for preference differed, with 39% citing overall experience, 19% success rate, 13% best interface, and only 11% rewards,” Truist analyst Barry Jonas said. When respondents were asked solely about their preferred prediction market platform, Kalshi ranked first. Kalshi — 17% DraftKings Predictions — 8% Polymarket — 7% Robinhood PM — 5% FanDuel Predicts — 4% Sportsbooks Lead in States With Legal Sports Betting The study also noted that sportsbooks “have the upper hand” in states with legal sports betting. This aligns with remarks from Flutter Entertainment CEO Peter Jackson, who stated there’s minimal “cannibalization” by prediction markets in states where FanDuel operates.Furthermore, Kalshi “holds just 3% of deposits” in states where DraftKings Sportsbook is present. Respondents in states without legal sports betting indicated they are “likely to shift from prediction markets to traditional sportsbooks once their states legalize sports wagering.” An anomaly discovered was that 9% of New Yorkers use prediction markets, which appears “high” given New York is the nation’s largest sports betting market. Prediction Market Users Older & Educated The Truist survey found only 5% of prediction-market users are 21 or under, contradicting common assumptions that such users tend to be younger. “The majority of users were aged 22–49, with the largest group being 30–39 (36%), followed by 40–49 (31%) and 22–29 (21%),” the survey noted. Truist also examined education and income trends, finding “many retail event contract traders have some higher education” and 46% earn at least $100,000 annually. “31% of respondents earned a bachelor’s degree, and 26% completed a graduate degree (Master’s, PhD, JD, MBA),” Jonas stated. “25% reported their highest education as some college/associate degree, while 19% had a high school diploma or less.” He added, “Our survey found annual household income for respondents was 37% in the $50,000–$99,999 range, 30% between $100,000–$149,999, and 16% from $150,000–$249,999. Four percent of respondents reported annual income exceeding $250,000.” This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.