Corporate America is very adept at separating you and I from our money, but they have more advanced ways if you’re interested. Prediction markets are my newest area of intrigue. That is fancy Wall Street speak for “betting on anything and everything.” The primary site is Kalshi and it allows you to place “investments (bets)” on future events. You can “invest (bet)” on who you think will be the Democratic or Republican nominee for President in 2028. You can “invest (bet)” on the future price of Bitcoin or on the Oscar’s Best Picture. “Invest” away.
The prediction markets were far more accurate in predicting the last Presidential election than the old school polling. Look for future scandals that involve huge candidate bets to move the prediction markets. Instead of “television advertising buys” candidate supporters will buy huge blocks on their candidate of choice to move the prediction markets, hoping to move the undecided vote.
I suppose it won’t matter if this is truly the end of democracy as we’ve been told a few thousand times over the last year.
Speaking of Wall Street speak. If you follow Bitcoin and the such, the biggest player in the world is probably Michael Saylor. He co-founded a company called MicroStrategy, which is described as a “business intelligence software company.” Which means exactly what you think it means, who the heck knows?
Every time he explains Bitcoin and the varying investment strategies in an interview, it makes me want to buy a used Cutlass Supreme that was only driven to church once a week. I’m sure he’ll get rich or stay rich as a result of all his knowledge, but my small town Missouri common sense says this might not work out for everyone.
My first car was a 1977 Cutlass. That thing was a beauty. Lime green interior and exterior, including pure vinyl seats. They don’t make automobiles like that anymore.
That reminds me that I have reached the “let’s buy the model car I had in high school” years old stage of life. If I find one of those bad boys at a reasonable price, look out. Keep your grandmas indoors at the bingo hall, cause me and that car together are pure fire.
Scratch that Bingo Hall comment. I’m not sure what time they hold Bingo events, but fairly sure it’s after my bedtime; and my wife sometimes reads this column.
If you’re still on the fence, you can get daily wagers on things that President Trump might say, if such things tickle your tonsils. You can also bet on the Texas Senate primary or the US Senate midterms. You’re too late to bet on the State of Union. If Trump said, “Drill Baby Drill” you could have made $93 on a $100 “investment” or you could have bet on the New York snowstorm. If you had “invested” $100 of your paycheck, more than 22 inches of snow would have gotten you $169 in profit, assuming it snowed that much. Basically, you can quit your job and just bet on Kalshi at this point, you’re welcome. Good luck.
(Guy Speckman can be reached buying Bitcoin and investing it on presidential nominee bets)
