This Crypto Platform Lets You Bet On California Wildfires, Wait, What ?!

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The fires affecting Los Angeles have already killed five people and caused significant material damage, as well as the evacuation of the emblematic Hollywood district. At the same time, users of the Polymarket platform are engaging in a unique activity: they are betting on these events and their future developments. Let's take stock.

Very bad taste bets

In a rather mind-blowing article, the site Futurism thus returns to these bets present on the service. This is the case of “Will the Palisades fire be contained on Friday”?” where more than $40,000 was gambled.

Others anticipate the extent of the damage and speculate on its ravages. Fact to know: betting on the platform is theoretically prohibited from the United States. But that does not prevent Internet users from Uncle Sam from engaging in this activity by using VPNs.

By visiting the site, we even discover a section dedicated to these fires. For example, a bet is open to know if the mayor of Los Angeles and the governor of California will be dismissed or leave their functions soon. Another anticipates “Will the Palisades fire spread to Santa Monica by Sunday”?”. Users are speculating on the worst, answering yes at 51% at the time of writing.

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Far from hiding, Polymarket has also shared a visual on X (formerly Twitter) to report on one of these bets. It didn't take much more to arouse the indignation of users of the social network. One of them deplores: “In bad taste” . Another agrees: “It's rare that gambling makes me angry, and today it did. Betting on human misery is disgusting!» « What's wrong with you ? », another one says.

Polymarket scrutinized in France

We had already told you about this American service that allows its users to bet on various scenarios, concerning sports, financial markets or even events of all kinds. Internet users simply bet cryptocurrencies on what could happen and they recover or not their winnings.

Moreover, it seems that the National Gaming Authority (ANJ) is monitoring this platform. The authority would see in its activity a form of betting that could be considered illegal in France. When asked about this, the organization said: “We are aware of this site and are currently examining its operation and its compliance with French gambling legislation.” More information on this subject in our previous article here.

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