U.S. Army Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, is accused of using classified information about the covert mission to capture Nicolas Maduro to enrich himself.
As a Special Forces soldier, Van Dyke allegedly used knowledge of the Jan. 3 raid to place about $33,000 in wagers. That wager netted him more than $400,000 on prediction markets, including Polymarket.
Rather than just placing a bet on a Major League Baseball game, for example, Polymarket has expanded betting to other events, such as a political race. In fact, the 2024 presidential race was its largest event in history, with about $3.6 billion wagered.
Approximately $58 million has been wagered at Polymarket over a peace deal in Iran, and people have even bet millions guessing the release date of the new "Grand Theft Auto" video game this year.
The criminal charges against Van Dyke, are not just a legal issue for a soldier, David Closson told the “Washington Watch” program, but a “moral failure” that deserves more attention.
“Like many vices, I think we can say that gambling is an illegitimate way of trying to meet a legitimate desire,” Closson told the show.
Gambling is a selfish and risky attempt to use your talents and money for quick gain, Closson argued. There is nothing wrong with risk per se, but risk with responsibility is different than a risk for selfish gain, he said.
In modern-day society, Closson said, an estimated 50 percent of young men have a sports betting account.
In all, 33 U.S. states currently permit online sports betting. Wisconsin became the 33rd state this month.
During the recent "March Madness" NCAA basketball, an estimated $3.3 billion was legally wagered during those games, according to the American Gaming Association.
“So this is not taking place in isolation,” Closson warned. “This is a major concern for Christian pastors and those in ministry.”
Van Dyke, who was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, was involved with planning the operation.
After his prediction netted him a huge payday, Van Dyke allegedly asked Polymarket to delete his account in an attempt to cover his tracks.
According to Polymarket, it has created new restrictions to clamp down on insider trading and has bragged it flagged Van Dyke's account and cooperated with authorities.
