Israeli scandal: Military secrets used for Polymarket betting

Israeli authorities indicted a reservist and a civilian for allegedly using classified military data to bet on Polymarket. The suspects face charges including security offenses, bribery, and obstruction of justice.

Israeli authorities have indicted an army reservist and a civilian for allegedly using classified military information to place bets on the Polymarket prediction platform. The reservist reportedly accessed sensitive operational details during his service and passed them to the civilian, who then used this privileged information to wager on contracts related to Israeli military operations and regional geopolitical events. The suspects were detained following a joint operation involving the Shin Bet internal security service, Israeli police, and the Ministry of Defense. Prosecutors have charged both individuals with serious security-related offenses, bribery, and obstruction of justice. Authorities emphasized that neither defendant holds a senior position, underscoring the risks posed by even mid-level access to sensitive information. Officials stressed that betting based on classified information poses a significant threat to national security and affirmed that all involved will be held accountable. The identities of those detained and further investigation details have not been disclosed. Reports suggest a possible link to a Polymarket user who profited from accurate predictions about Israeli military actions, though this has not been officially confirmed.