Prediction markets grew fast in trading this year.
预测市场今年交易量增长很快。
These markets are linked to important elections this fall.
这些市场与今年秋天的重要选举有关。
US states want to ban them, saying they are like casinos without licenses.
美国各州想禁止它们,说它们像没有牌照的赌场。
States also worry that high-risk odds could affect US democracy.
各州还担心,高风险的赔率可能影响美国民主。
Election managers worry about one thing.
选举管理者担心一件事。
People think they can change the election result. Money can hurt their trust in elections and democracy.
如果人们觉得自己能影响选举结果,金钱利益会伤害人们对选举和民主的信心。
Jared DeMarinis is the head of the Maryland election board. He says this is a 'troubling trend.'
马里兰州选举委员会管理者贾里德·德马里尼斯说,这是一个“令人不安的趋势”。
Platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi let people buy and sell contracts about event results.
Polymarket和Kalshi这样的平台,让人们买卖与事件结果有关的合约。
Prices are usually from 1 to 99 cents.
价格通常是1到99美分。
Trading is growing fast.
交易增长很快。
At the same time, President Trump pushes for voter ID changes.
与此同时,特朗普总统推动选民身份验证改革。
He also wrongly says that mail voting has fraud.
他还错误地说,邮寄投票有欺诈。
Platform officials say these activities are not gambling.
平台官员说,这些活动不是赌博。
They say it is like buying and selling stocks or bonds.
他们说,这就像买卖股票或债券。
They are also protected by federal insider trading rules.
他们还受到联邦内幕交易保护。
Columbia Law School professor Joshua Mitts also says that elections affect the whole stock market.
哥伦比亚法学院教授约书亚·米茨也说,整个股市都受选举影响。
This year, prediction markets had some problems.
今年,预测市场遇到一些问题。
For example, in the Wisconsin primary, the prediction was wrong.
例如,威斯康星州初选时,预测结果错了。
In the Los Angeles mayor primary, online influencers said someone cheated.
洛杉矶市长初选时,网络影响者说有人作弊。
Courts probably will not decide related lawsuits before the election.
法院不太可能在选举前决定相关诉讼。
This almost ensures trading will reach an unheard-of level.
这几乎保证了交易会达到空前水平。
Billions of dollars may be bet on things like control of Congress or governor races.
数十亿美元可能投注在国会控制权或州长选举等问题上。
State and local election offices are talking about how to teach the public.
州和地方选举办公室在讨论如何教育公众。
They want to tell people that market odds are different from polls.
他们想告诉人们,市场赔率与民意调查不同。
Delaware County's leader Jim Allen asked workers to swear not to bet on elections.
特拉华县主管吉姆·艾伦要求工作人员宣誓不押注选举。
Maryland also plans to make a similar request.
马里兰州也计划做类似要求。
Analysts worry about one thing.
分析师担心一件事。
Rich party members can raise a candidate's odds and change public opinion.
富有的党徒可以提高候选人赔率,影响舆论。
Or a candidate can use good odds to raise money.
或者,候选人可以利用有利赔率来筹款。
Columbia University professor Eric Tully says research shows big bets make others follow.
哥伦比亚大学教授埃里克·塔利引用研究说,大额赌注会诱导其他人跟风。
But platform officials say traders fix the problem.
但平台官员说,有经济动机的交易者会纠正偏差。
Mitts says candidates can ask supporters to bet in the market.
米茨指出,候选人可以鼓励支持者在市场下注。
This may be easier in small elections.
这在小型选举中可能更容易做到。
This makes law enforcement hard.
这会给执法带来麻烦。