Polymarket has been accused of paying people to produce deceptive social media videos depicting fake bets and celebrations, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation. The Journal identified over 1,100 such clips, with some creators confirming they were compensated by the company despite not disclosing the arrangement in their posts.
The alleged practice involved filming on near-perfect replicas of the Polymarket website, showing trades and winnings that were not real. In one example, a video showed a visitor navigating to a typo-squatting domain—"poiymarket.com"—rather than the authentic site, the Journal reported.
None of the bets featured in the over 1,100 clips were genuine, the investigation found. Creators who spoke with the Journal acknowledged the staged nature of the content but did not reveal the payments to viewers.
The allegations raise questions about Polymarket's marketing tactics and regulatory compliance, particularly as the platform operates in a legally gray area for prediction markets. If confirmed, the practice could violate FTC guidelines on undisclosed paid endorsements.
Polymarket did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company may face scrutiny from consumer protection authorities over the authenticity of user-generated promotional content.