Polymarket is catching heat after a fortune-cookie ad set off a viral backlash. Researcher Jared Holt shared a photo of what looked, at first glance, like a standard fortune slip, except the message had been swapped out for a Polymarket promo and a QR code.
The image racked up millions of views across social platforms, at least going by the public counts on the posts, and the reaction was easy to understand. Critics called it intrusive, inappropriate, “rock bottom,” even dystopian. Their point was simple enough: people shouldn’t be running into betting ads in a restaurant dessert.
Who’s actually responsible is still murky. It’s not clear whether Polymarket placed the ad itself or whether a third party handled it. OpenFortune, which sells branded fortune-cookie inserts, keeps coming up in the debate because it has worked with gambling brands, BetMGM among them, but nobody has publicly confirmed that it was behind this campaign.
And for people already uneasy about how far gambling ads are spreading, this blowup lands hard. Critics say ads like this make betting feel normal in everyday settings, put the message in front of children and people vulnerable to addiction, and arrive while Polymarket is already under scrutiny over influencer campaigns tied to reported winnings and simulated trades, a lawsuit, a reported CFTC investigation, and the reported firing of chief marketing officer Matthew Modabber.
The argument is still unfolding on social platforms, where Holt’s photo keeps circulating along with broader criticism of industry influence, including donations to addiction nonprofits and the spectacle of former opponents later turning up as lobbyists for prediction markets.
Author: Jesús Pina
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"de-DE": "Jesús Pina verfolgt, was künstliche Intelligenz an der Software wirklich verändert, die wir täglich benutzen — und trennt dabei, was schon funktioniert, von dem, was bisher nur eine Ankündigung ist. Ihn interessiert die praktische Wirkung: welches Werkzeug echte Zeit spart, welches auf halbem Weg stehen bleibt und welches man sich vor der Installation zweimal ansehen sollte. Er arbeitet täglich mit KI-Modellen mitten im redaktionellen Prozess von Softonic und kennt deren Grenzen deshalb recht genau.",
"en-US": "Jesús Pina follows what artificial intelligence is actually changing in the software people use every day, telling apart what already works from what is still only an announcement. What interests him is the practical effect: which tool saves real time, which one stops halfway and which one deserves a second look before you install it. He works daily with AI models inside Softonic's own editorial process, so he knows their limits fairly well.",
"es-ES": "Jesús Pina sigue lo que la inteligencia artificial está cambiando de verdad en el software que usamos cada día, separando lo que ya funciona de lo que por ahora solo es un anuncio. Le interesa el efecto práctico: qué herramienta ahorra tiempo real, cuál se queda a medias y cuál conviene mirar dos veces antes de instalarla. Trabaja a diario con modelos de IA dentro del propio proceso editorial de Softonic, así que conoce bastante bien sus límites.",
"fr-FR": "Jesús Pina suit ce que l'intelligence artificielle change réellement dans les logiciels du quotidien, en distinguant ce qui fonctionne déjà de ce qui n'est encore qu'une annonce. Ce qui l'intéresse, c'est l'effet pratique : quel outil fait gagner du temps, lequel s'arrête à mi-chemin et lequel mérite un second examen avant installation. Il travaille au quotidien avec des modèles d'IA au cœur du processus éditorial de Softonic, et connaît donc assez bien leurs limites.",
"it-IT": "Jesús Pina segue ciò che l'intelligenza artificiale sta davvero cambiando nel software di ogni giorno, distinguendo quello che già funziona da quello che per ora è solo un annuncio. Gli interessa l'effetto pratico: quale strumento fa risparmiare tempo, quale si ferma a metà e quale conviene guardare due volte prima di installarlo. Lavora ogni giorno con modelli di IA dentro il processo editoriale di Softonic, e per questo ne conosce bene i limiti.",
"nl-NL": "Jesús Pina volgt wat kunstmatige intelligentie echt verandert aan de software die we dagelijks gebruiken, en scheidt daarbij wat al werkt van wat nog slechts een aankondiging is. Wat hem interesseert is het praktische effect: welke tool echt tijd bespaart, welke halverwege blijft steken en welke je beter twee keer bekijkt voordat je hem installeert. Hij werkt dagelijks met AI-modellen binnen het redactieproces van Softonic en kent daardoor hun grenzen vrij goed.",
"pl-PL": "Jesús Pina śledzi to, co sztuczna inteligencja rzeczywiście zmienia w programach używanych codziennie, oddzielając rozwiązania, które już działają, od tych, które są na razie tylko zapowiedzią. Interesuje go efekt praktyczny: które narzędzie naprawdę oszczędza czas, które zatrzymuje się w połowie drogi, a które warto sprawdzić dwa razy przed instalacją. Codziennie pracuje z modelami AI wewnątrz procesu redakcyjnego Softonica, więc dobrze zna ich ograniczenia.",
"pt-BR": "Jesús Pina acompanha o que a inteligência artificial está realmente mudando nos programas que usamos todos os dias, separando o que já funciona do que ainda é apenas anúncio. O que lhe interessa é o efeito prático: qual ferramenta economiza tempo de verdade, qual para no meio do caminho e qual merece uma segunda olhada antes de instalar. Trabalha diariamente com modelos de IA dentro do próprio processo editorial da Softonic, e por isso conhece bem seus limites."
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