A Wall Street Journal investigation found Polymarket paid creators to post videos of fake bets. The company reportedly discouraged disclosure of these paid partnerships. Polymarket says it will audit its promotional content.
Media and publishing professionals tracking the intersection of creator marketing and platform transparency have new concerns after a Wall Street Journal investigation reported that Polymarket paid online creators to post deceptive videos simulating profitable bets on its prediction market.
The Journal said it reviewed 1,100 videos about Polymarket and examined instructional materials provided to creators. Many of these videos were reportedly filmed on nearly identical replicas of the Polymarket website, but the trades and winnings shown were not real. According to the report, a marketing contractor then amplified these videos through a coordinated social media effort.
The investigation also found that Polymarket instructed creators not to disclose they were being paid, though some began adding “@polymarket partner” to their bios after journalists began making inquiries. One creator, Razeen Khan, who worked with Polymarket until March, compared the practice to advertising that makes products appear more appealing than reality, stating that the videos depicted what actually happens on the platform.
Polymarket responded by stating it is committed to maintaining accurate, fair, and transparent markets, and announced plans to audit its promotional content. The company did not provide further details on the scope or timeline of this audit.
