Polymarket removes Cornell rape case betting contract after backlash

Polymarket pulled a contract allowing users to bet on whether seven men accused of raping a Cornell University student would face felony sex crime charges, following sustained public criticism from advocates and nonprofit groups.

The contract, listed on September 30, had recorded more than $450,000 in trading volume before removal. It was scheduled to run until January 31. The case involves a former Cornell student, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, who alleges she was drugged and gang-raped at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. None of the seven defendants have faced criminal charges. New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor after local prosecutors initially declined to pursue the case.

Attorney Cheyenne Hunt called the market "dehumanizing, disgusting, and dangerous." Sexual assault advocacy group I Have The Right To condemned Polymarket for converting allegations of sexual violence into a tradeable instrument.

Polymarket stated its platform aims to provide objective insight into significant public issues and characterized the contract as focused on government action rather than the underlying allegations. The company confirmed the contract's removal.