Polymarket paid dozens of social media creators to film fake bets on close replicas of its website, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation published Saturday. The Journal reviewed 1,105 videos from 10 creators posted between December 2025 and mid-May, finding that approximately 70% contained bets totaling roughly $1.9 million—none of which were real. The campaign targeted U.S. users through a marketing contractor despite Polymarket being barred from offering its prediction market platform to Americans since a 2022 settlement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Creators were paid about $2,000 to $3,000 monthly and instructed not to disclose the arrangement, the Journal reported. The disclosure comes as Polymarket seeks to reverse its 2022 settlement restrictions and expand its operations, while facing new legal challenges including a lawsuit filed this week by Kentucky accusing the platform of running unlicensed sports wagering.
WSJ Investigation Reveals 1,105 Videos With Fake Bets
The Wall Street Journal reviewed 1,105 videos from 10 creators posted between December 2025 and mid-May. A bet appeared in about 70% of them. None of the wagers, worth roughly $1.9 million, were real. In one January clip, college student George Makihara showed a $100,000 win on a bet that President Donald Trump would say "McDonald's" that month. The footage of Trump saying the word was two months old. More than 50 real accounts placed the same bet in January, and all of them lost, the Journal found.
Polymarket Built Dummy Sites Including Misspelled URLs
Polymarket built dummy sites for the videos, including one at the misspelled URL "poiymarket.com," which resembles the true "polymarket.com" domain when the 'i' is capitalized. Across 118 videos, creators celebrated nearly $900,000 in fabricated winnings. Those bets would actually have lost more than $166,000.
Creators Paid $2,000 to $3,000 Monthly Without Disclosure Requirements
Creators were paid about $2,000 to $3,000 a month and told not to disclose the arrangement, the Journal reported. Some added "@polymarket partner" to their bios only after the paper started asking questions. The firm worked closely with a hired marketing contractor in order to promote the site, per the report.
Marketing Campaign Targeted U.S. Users Through Virality Firm
The campaign targeted U.S. users. Marketing firm Virality managed a network of "clippers" and paid them only when at least 60% of their audience was based in the U.S. The clips drew more than 140 million views across TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, per analytics provider Tubular.
CFTC Settlement Bars U.S. Access Since 2022
Polymarket has been barred from offering its main prediction market platform to Americans since a 2022 settlement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, under then-President Biden, though they can still reach the site through a VPN. The company is seeking to reverse the effect of its 2022 settlement and bring its offshore exchange back onshore. Kentucky sued Polymarket and rival Kalshi this week, accusing both of running unlicensed sports wagering. The company recently rolled out markets on private-company valuations and IPOs.
CMO Paid Creators $350,000 Via Personal PayPal Account
Politico reported on June 5 that Chief Marketing Officer Matthew Modabber used a personal PayPal account to pay creators who promoted Polymarket odds on X without labeling the posts as ads. The report found that Modabber sent at least $350,000 to creators or influencers, while the account sent more than $2.5 million to more than 800 people overall. The Journal also reported that streamer Adin Ross has a multimillion-dollar deal with Polymarket, and that Polymarket paid clippers to promote at least 19 videos discussing how to trade on inside information.
Polymarket Commits to Comprehensive Audit of Promotional Content
Polymarket told the Journal it is "committed to maintaining accurate, fair, and transparent markets" and plans a comprehensive audit of its promotional content. Polymarket said it prohibits trading based on stolen or confidential data. Polymarket is trailing rival Kalshi in monthly volume, according to The Block's data dashboard, with its regulated onshore U.S. exchange in a distant third.
FAQ
What did the Wall Street Journal investigation find about Polymarket's marketing videos?
The Wall Street Journal reviewed 1,105 videos from 10 creators posted between December 2025 and mid-May, finding that approximately 70% contained bets totaling roughly $1.9 million—none of which were real. Polymarket built dummy sites including the misspelled URL "poiymarket.com" for these videos, and across 118 videos, creators celebrated nearly $900,000 in fabricated winnings that would actually have lost more than $166,000.
How much were social media creators paid by Polymarket?
Creators were paid about $2,000 to $3,000 a month and told not to disclose the arrangement, the Journal reported. Additionally, Chief Marketing Officer Matthew Modabber sent at least $350,000 to creators or influencers via a personal PayPal account, while that account sent more than $2.5 million to more than 800 people overall, according to a June 5 Politico report.
Why did Polymarket target U.S. users despite regulatory restrictions?
Polymarket has been barred from offering its main prediction market platform to Americans since a 2022 settlement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Despite this restriction, the marketing campaign targeted U.S. users through marketing firm Virality, which managed a network of "clippers" and paid them only when at least 60% of their audience was based in the U.S., drawing more than 140 million views across TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.
