Responsible gaming

Trading event contracts involves risk of loss and is not appropriate for everyone. Venues are open only where permitted and only to adults: 18+ or 21+ depending on your state or province and the platform.

Keep it in proportion

• Set a budget before you trade, and treat it as money you can afford to lose.
• Decide how much time you will spend, and stop when you reach it, win or lose.
• Never chase a loss with a bigger trade.
• Do not trade when you are upset, tired or drinking.
• A gap between a market price and the numbers is not a prediction. Prices move as people trade.

Signs it may be a problem

Gambling problems can creep up on anyone. It may be time to talk to someone if you:

• spend more money or time than you planned, more often than not;
• trade to win back what you lost;
• borrow money, or use money meant for bills, to keep going;
• hide how much you trade from the people close to you;
• feel restless or irritable when you try to cut back;
• trade to escape stress or a low mood.

Tools the venues offer

Regulated venues let you set deposit limits, take a time-out for a set period, or exclude yourself completely. You will find them in your account settings, or the venue’s support team can set them for you. A limit is easiest to set before you need it.

Age limits

You must be 18 or older to open an account with a prediction-market venue, and 21 or older in some states and on some platforms. Venues check your identity and age before you can trade. If you are under the limit where you live, do not open an account.

Get help

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, the US national helpline, or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling at ncpgambling.org. Help is free and confidential.

Gamblers Anonymous runs free meetings across the US and online for anyone who wants to stop: gamblersanonymous.org.