Polymarket Publicly Shames Person With Problem Gambling Signs

By Brian Pempus

The online gambling platform Polymarket publicly shamed one of its own customers who lost a large sum of money betting on sports.

In early August 2025, Polymarket, which had recently resolved its legal trouble with the federal government in an effort to return to U.S. cyberspace, posted about the user on its X/Twitter account.

Polymarket wrote that a person with the username “abura2025” had “torched” more than $40,000 in two days betting on various sports, including the NFL preseason.

“Now he’s chasing losses on Bills & Texans. All user profiles are public—are we watching a historic meltdown?” the gambling platform asked its followers.

Chasing losses can be a sign of a severe gambling problem, which carries heightened suicide risks. Calling a gambling problem a “historic meltdown” is making light of a potentially dire situation.

Polymarket Stigmatizing Problem Gambling

Problem gambling is often called the hidden addiction, largely because of the stigma surrounding gambling addiction.

The person shamed by Polymarket appears anonymous, but the bettor could be identifiable if they used the same username elsewhere, like on their social media.

Still, it doesn’t matter whether only Polymarket knows the identity of user abura2025.

It’s dangerous and wrong to shame anyone exhibiting potential problem gambling. Shame makes it harder for some people to seek help for their gambling addiction.

Polymarket’s behavior has led to bans in numerous countries, including Colombia criminalizing Polymarket in 2025.

Responsible Gambling?

Sports betting apps like DraftKings and FanDuel also cause harm. However, these apps have self-exclusion options and other tools that offer at least some help to users.

These guardrails don’t exist on Polymarket.

It’s the Wild West at a so-called “prediction” platform like Polymarket, which has Donald Trump Jr. and the NFL’s Saquon Barkley as investors.

Polymarket is in the process of transitioning back into the U.S. market through the acquisition of a CFTC‑regulated exchange (QCEX).

There is no indication that Polymarket will offer consumer protections such as self-exclusion as part of its near-term business plan. In the meantime, Polymarket problem gambling could run rampant.

Thanks to the so-called “trading” format of Polymarket’s gambling product, the platform can offer sports betting nationwide under federal jurisdiction.

However, some states are fighting in court to block nationwide online sports gambling.