Pentagon Bans Military Betting on Kalshi, Polymarket

The Pentagon just banned its own soldiers from betting on military outcomes on platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket. Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a memo on Tuesday that using classified info to gamble could expose operations to enemies. He warned that financial stakes could warp judgment, noting a logistician with money riding a strike date has a vested interest. The directive follows an indictment of soldier Ken Van Dyke, who used classified intel on Maduro's capture to earn $400,000. Van Dyke, guilty, faces fraud charges, while Israeli authorities indicted a reservist and a civilian for betting on Iranian strikes. Under the new ban, Pentagon staff must keep secrets off markets, as Hegseth said enemies watch them to anticipate moves. This move underscores how even a $400,000 windfall can compromise national security, reminding troops that their decisions can have consequences.