On November 5, people across the United States will get to exercise their right to vote in what might probably be one of the most tumultuous elections in recent years. With Kamala Harris replacing Biden, the verbal sparring match between Harris and Trump, and the assassination attempt earlier this year – the world is dying to know who will become the next US president.
And of course, when such important matters are discussed, people can't help but to bet on their favorite candidate and hope they will win. Most people make random bets between friends, but some choose to take said bets seriously and place real money on the line. What does the law have to say about that? And how does it affect the Everygame poker community? Let's find out!
What Does the Law Say About Betting on the 2024 Elections
When you look at the national polls, it is a really tight race between Trump and Harris, with the latter leading by a single percent. And while polls are not accurate enough to predict who will actually win the presidential race, they show just how split the American people are.
And when the chances of both candidates winning are pretty much identical, who wouldn't want to place a bet on the outcome of the presidential race? Well, up until recently, betting on the outcome of political elections wasn't allowed.
Not that long ago, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission motioned to prohibit betting on which party will rule the House or Senate in 2025, claiming that such bets will create incentives for voters to support specific players, thus threatening the integrity of the elections.
However, on October 2, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia lifted that ban, as no sufficient evidence was provided to prove the public would be harmed if betting occurred. And apparently, people have been really invested in those elections, as it was reported that people spent more than $1.2 billion betting on the outcome of these elections, within and outside the US.
How Will Poker Players Be Affected?
Betting on the elections can provide poker players with rare, new, and exciting opportunities that aren't always available. First of all, placing bets on the elections themselves can turn out to be a fun distraction. But that's not all!
Until all the votes are counted and the winner is announced, people are bound to be buzzing with nerves and excitement, and placing a bet or two while playing poker can be the perfect distraction from the stress of the elections.
But remember! Even though playing a bit of poker and placing a few bets might be thrilling for a while, it shouldn't be your main outlet for pent-up energy. You shouldn't get too distracted by the charged atmosphere and place your bets responsibly.
And lastly, if you've been playing poker for a while, you might consider using your analytical skills to try to figure out which way the wind is blowing. Do you think you know which candidate might win? And do you think you can read the public enough to figure out who they're betting on? If you manage to use this knowledge to your advantage when betting on the elections, you should consider yourself a master poker player!
Play Poker & Go Vote!
To any of you who are able to do so, make sure to cast your votes on election day to support the candidate you believe in! And if you get the day off from work, you can spend the day with our Everygame community!