Google Clarifies That Polymarket Bets in News Section Were a Mistake

Polymarket bets recently appeared in Google News alongside genuine news articles, but those results have since vanished. A Google spokesperson clarified that these listings were never meant to be included, stating, “Google News is designed to show sources that create content about current issues, events, and important topics, and we have policies for sites to be eligible to appear. This site briefly appeared in Google News in error, and it is no longer surfacing in News.”

These links directed users to betting markets linked to specific news events. For example, before the removal, a search for “will ships transit the strait” (referring to the Strait of Hormuz) revealed a Polymarket bet on the number of ships allowed to pass, positioned right below credible sources like The Guardian and Reuters.

Initially, there was speculation that Google might have been testing Polymarket results as part of a potential integration. Both Polymarket and Kalshi have been actively seeking partnerships with journalists and various news outlets, including some less reputable ones. It remains unclear how Polymarket ended up in Google News or when it first appeared, although reports began surfacing on social media as early as January.

Google has already collaborated with both Kalshi and Polymarket to incorporate their data into Google Finance, but the connection between that partnership and the Google News results is still uncertain. Further inquiries have been made to Google for more details.