Polymarket Removes Cornell Case Betting Contract

Polymarket removed a contract asking whether any of seven men accused in a Cornell University sexual-assault case would face felony sex-crime charges, following public criticism of the market. The contract had drawn 451,633 in trading volume before it was taken down, according to a figure reported from the listing. The market opened September 30 on Polymarket’s international platform and was scheduled to close January 31, 2027. It was not available on the company’s U.S. app. The contract concerned whether any of the seven men would be charged with a felony sex crime, not whether they would be found guilty. A Polymarket spokesperson said the company removed the contract after hearing criticism. The spokesperson described it as a market about whether the government would take action, adding that the process deserved scrutiny, particularly in a case of serious concern. The company’s precise decision-making rationale has not been established beyond that statement. The removal followed objections from survivors’ advocates and public attention to the contract. An advocacy group, I Have The Right To, condemned betting on the outcome of a sexual-assault case. A petition called on...