Robinhood Enters Betting Arena with Presidential Election Wagers
Robinhood wants to get in on the betting scene surrounding the presidential election. In 2024, gambling in the U.S. is projected to generate $24.98 billion in revenue—roughly 22% more than in 2023.
What’s Happening:
- Introducing Betting Markets: Robinhood recently launched a new feature allowing users to bet on the presidential election, a space previously dominated by smaller platforms like Polymarket.
- New Product Offerings: Alongside this, Robinhood unveiled "Robinhood Legend," a free tradubg platform for all users that offers customizable charting and streamlined options trading.
Bankless Take:
While this might initially seem like a cash grab, Robinhood may actually be gauging interest in a betting marketplace among its users. Polymarket’s recent success illustrates people’s enthusiasm for event-based betting, with over $1.8 billion in volume handled in October alone ahead of the election. Robinhood, with its large base of younger, risk-tolerant users, could well capture a substantial portion of the event-based betting market if this test proves successful.