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  • Hacker News
  • It’s fun to think of showing this title to somebody in the year 2000 and telling them that it’s actually completely intelligible
    by mock-possum
  • I am into Counter Strike and I love watching the majors, but it seems like my entire feed is full of betting ads for Polymarket now. Before I had actual counter strike casinos but those are long gone in favor of these prediction markets.
    by Agreed3750
  • For anyone wondering what "wumao" is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Cent_Party:

    > The 50 Cent Party, also known as the 50 Cent Army or wumao (/ˈwuːmaʊ/; from Chinese: 五毛; lit. 'five dimes'), are Chinese government employees posting online comments to divert public attention or promote positive sentiment.

    > ...

    > The name "50 Cent Party" is derived from claims that government hired commentators are reportedly paid RMB¥0.50 (5 jiao) for every post in order to shape public opinion in ways favorable towards Chinese Communist Party (CCP) policies.[1][5][6]

    So basically paid shills.

    by 10111001
  • I will still contend putting gambling apps in people's pockets is one of the obviously dumb ideas our society has let happen.
    by verdverm
  • In the past 5 years I’ve been to Vegas & Atlantic City 7 times for conferences and music festivals. Never had any interest in gambling, except $20 in video blackjack on the most recent trip.

    At the end of the summer I dipped my toe in Polymarket while watching the US Open (the only sporting event that interest me). In a week and I half I nearly lost 2 months salary. Found myself up at 3AM betting not just on tennis, but also on random sports that seemed like a “sure thing.” And not just on Polymarket, but Kalshi too.

    The dark patterns involved in prediction markets are real and terrifying. Washed my hands of that, but woof.

    by AbstractH24
  • > I feel fine participating because Polymarket has no house edge or VIG

    > Prediction markets are PVP thats the way i look at it

    This is true but people should at least be informed that the overwhelming majority of trading volume is HFT firms with faster access to data and the prediction markets than you. These firms pay the prediction markets for that access, and the losses that happen on prediction markets flow to these few large HFT shops.

    by kart23
  • Lesser known is that Polymarket’s Twitter accounts themselves are actually rebranded personal accounts from (often cancelled) esports personalities. People who have given up their brand or their career sold their accounts to Polymarket, who rebranded them.

    You can check by looking up tweets from their account IDs. I think it’s possible they may have even left up the old tweets if you scroll back far enough.

    by lwansbrough
  • My Instagram ads are just filled with Polymarket, Kalshi, brand name casinos... it's endless. It's all low level influencers talking about how much money they're making, how you can bet (and yes, it is betting) any time you have 30 seconds to spare, how easy it makes it all.

    I feel like there's been a growing, dark underbelly of gambling addiction since it was legalized online. And it's going to be difficult to walk it back.

    (the ones that truly blow my mind are the promo ads for people gambling on buying mystery collectible cards then virtually "ripping" the pack open. Grown adult men paying hundreds of dollars! Absolutely wild.)

    by afavour

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