Pentagon Bans Insider Betting, Cites Intelligence Risks

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, styled Secretary of War, has barred Pentagon personnel from wagering on military operations with the help of nonpublic government information. An Oct. 20 memo from Hegseth, which the Pentagon press office provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation, says such bets could alert adversaries to planned actions and endanger American troops. The prohibition covers every prediction platform and singles out Polymarket and Kalshi by name.

According to Military Times, the memo reasons that a servicemember's bet on a military outcome produces a signal that foreign intelligence services can watch and exploit. The memo argues that troops deserve protection rather than exposure to the enemy for someone's personal profit. A Pentagon official told the Daily Caller News Foundation that using confidential information for financial transactions or private gain is forbidden and can bring punishment. The department, the official said, will take action against violators, including working with the Department of Justice.

Military Times notes the policy follows a case from roughly six months ago, in which a soldier who took part in the operation to remove Maduro was charged with earning $400,000 on Polymarket by betting on that raid using inside knowledge.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Daily Caller’s reporting. Read the full story at Daily Caller →