Polymarket Faces Severe Backlash Over Cornell Sexual Assault Betting Market
Polymarket faced severe backlash in the USA after opening a betting market on a sexual assault case at Cornell University, drawing criticism from advocacy groups and shining a spotlight on celebrity endorsers like LeBron James.
Controversy Surrounds Polymarket Over Cornell Sexual Assault Betting Market
A major controversy has erupted in the USA regarding the prediction market platform Polymarket, which allowed users to place bets on the outcome of an alleged gang rape case at Cornell University. According to a report by Front Office Sports, the international platform opened a betting market allowing users to wager on whether at least one of seven men accused of sexually assaulting a student would face criminal charges for a serious sexual offense. The case has also sparked outrage in the sports world, as several prominent USA stars, notably LeBron James, serve as brand ambassadors for the company.
The betting market opened on September 30, and by Monday afternoon, trading volume had already reached $451,633. Users assigned roughly a 28 percent probability that at least one of the seven men would be charged with a serious sexual offense by January 31, 2027, the date the bet closes. The option to wager on the developments of a sexual assault case drew sharp criticism, particularly from organizations supporting victims of sexual violence.
"This is inhumane, disgusting, and dangerous," wrote attorney Cheyenne Hunt in an Instagram post that gathered thousands of likes and hundreds of comments. She directly addressed the platform's celebrity endorsers, asking: "To the famous ambassadors of Polymarket, do you really want to be associated with this thing?"
Backlash Against Celebrity Endorsers and Company Defense
The organization I Have The Right To, which advocates for victims of sexual assault, also spoke out against the company: "What kind of culture looks at sexual violence and sees an opportunity to make money? This is a rape culture, and it should shock every single one of us." Representatives for LeBron James, who reportedly receives about $15 million a year to promote Polymarket, along with other sports legends like Derek Jeter, Eli Manning, and Sue Bird, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. There is no suggestion that the athletes knew about or were involved in creating the specific betting market.
In its defense, Polymarket rejected the criticism and argued that prediction markets provide objective, data-driven information. A company spokesperson stated: "This case, and campus sexual assaults in general, are extremely important issues. Markets provide objective, data-driven insights into how such a case is progressing through the justice system, on a topic that deserves much more transparency and genuine attention."
