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Pentagon bans troops from using nonpublic information for prediction market bets
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued a new directive prohibiting U.S. military personnel, intelligence professionals, and Department civilians from using nonpublic information to place bets on prediction markets.
The one-page memo specifies that the ban covers both classified and unclassified but nonpublic information. It targets platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi, noting that financial transactions on military outcomes can create signals that enemies may monitor. Hegseth stated that financial stakes could warp the judgment of personnel, such as logisticians or analysts.
Violators of this directive may face administrative punishment or criminal charges under federal law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The policy follows the case of Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke, who was charged with using his access as a Special Forces member to bet on the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Entities
Gannon Ken Van Dyke · Kalshi · Pentagon · Pete Hegseth · Polymarket
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Violators may face administrative punishment or criminal charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice or federal law. www.kaaltv.com · mymotherlode.com · www.newsday.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The ban applies to both classified and unclassified but nonpublic information. www.kaaltv.com · mymotherlode.com · www.newsday.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke was charged with using classified information to bet on the removal of Nicolás Maduro. www.kaaltv.com · mymotherlode.com · www.newsday.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a directive banning troops from using nonpublic information to bet on prediction markets. www.kaaltv.com · mymotherlode.com · www.newsday.com