Prediction markets in the United States: a youth public health perspective

Prediction markets (PMs) provide the opportunity to trade on the likelihood of an event, such as will Team A beat Team B. PMs are increasingly popular, particularly among young people, because unlike legalized online sports betting, PMs can be accessed in all 50 United States and in some PMs, at age 18. PM's accessibility to young people, gamified features, and strong peer context for transactions contribute to PM popularity among young people, highlighting the urgent need for research on the prevalence of youth PM involvement, youth exposure to PM marketing, and impacts of PM on youth well-being to inform prevention and intervention. This Perspective reviews the distinction between PM and gambling, the appeal of PMs for young people, PM marketing practices that appeal to young people, the developmental context of youth prediction market involvement, and discusses prevention and intervention methods for possible PM-related adverse effects on health among young people.