As online prediction markets grow, employers may need to review whether workplace policies address the use of confidential information in event-based betting markets.

Prediction markets allow users to buy and sell contracts tied to future events, including elections, economic indicators, business outcomes, sports and other public events. For employers, the risk is that employees with access to confidential company, customer or market information could use that information to place bets or share it with others.

“Prediction markets turn almost anything into a wager, but employers cannot let confidential business information become casino chips,” said Dave O’Neil, director of communications for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “Companies should make clear that nonpublic information is not a betting strategy.”

Employers should review confidentiality, ethics, insider trading and code-of-conduct policies to ensure they clearly prohibit the use or disclosure of nonpublic information in prediction markets. Any updates should be paired with training, reporting procedures and clear enforcement standards. 6/22/2026