Polymarket pulls Iran rescue bets amid backlash

Polymarket removed a betting market tied to the rescue of US service members in Iran after backlash from lawmakers who criticised it for commodifying a military operation.

The market allowed users to wager on when the US would confirm the rescue of two airmen following an F-15E fighter jet incident, with both crew members now confirmed safe.

“This is disgusting,”

Said US Representative Seth Moulton, criticising the listing for reducing a military rescue effort to a financial trade.

A Polymarket spokesperson said the market did not meet the platform’s integrity standards and was removed shortly after appearing, adding that internal safeguards are under review.

The controversy comes as congressional Democrats push legislation to ban prediction contracts tied to elections, war and government actions, while senators have also raised national security concerns over similar markets.

Regulators are stepping up enforcement, with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission filing lawsuits against states it says are attempting to bypass federal oversight of prediction platforms.

Despite mounting scrutiny, the sector continues to grow as Kalshi expands into institutional trading and firms such as JPMorgan signal interest in entering the prediction market space.