Polymarket pays Counter-Strike players to promote prediction market on X

Polymarket hires Counter-Strike pros for X promotions

Polymarket, a platform where users bet on real-world events using crypto, is reportedly paying professional Brazilian Counter-Strike players to promote its service on X (formerly Twitter). Payments range from $20 to $500 per post, according to a report by Counter-Strike news outlet Dust2.

The players are asked to comment on news events while mentioning Polymarket and sharing their bets. Polymarket currently offers over 500 betting markets related to Counter-Strike, some with trading volumes of $1 million to $2 million.

Criticism over misleading and fake promotions

Professional Counter-Strike player Robin Kool criticized Polymarket after an official Polymarket Counter-Strike account falsely claimed he was in Paris with a Porsche. Kool called the post "digital cancer" and criticized AI-generated sponsored posts as "a fucking joke."

Other users on X described the $20-per-post rate as an opportunity for players "to completely debase yourself… for a morally bankrupt gambling company."

Polymarket’s history of fake bets and restrictions

Earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal revealed that Polymarket’s promotional posts often featured fake bets. Influencers used a fake Polymarket website to display $900,000 in winnings, though the bets were never actually placed. If they had been, the Journal estimated the influencers would have lost about $160,000.

Polymarket is also restricted in 39 countries, including the U.S., where it is not legally permitted to operate. The platform reportedly pays "clippers"—people who edit and share influencer footage—only if 60% of their audience is U.S.-based.

What is confirmed

• Polymarket is paying Brazilian Counter-Strike players $20 to $500 per X post to promote its prediction market.
• The platform has over 500 Counter-Strike-related betting markets, some with $1M–$2M in volume.
• Polymarket is restricted in 39 countries, including the U.S.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that influencers used fake Polymarket websites to display fake bets and winnings.

What is still unclear

• Polymarket has not responded to requests for comment about the payments or fake promotions.
• It is unclear how many players or influencers are involved in these promotional campaigns.
• No official confirmation exists on whether Polymarket is directly responsible for the fake bets or misleading posts.

Why this matters for crypto and gaming

Polymarket’s use of paid promotions in the Counter-Strike community highlights how prediction markets are expanding into gaming. However, the reports of fake bets and misleading posts raise concerns about transparency and trust in crypto-based betting platforms.

Since Polymarket is not allowed to operate in the U.S., its reliance on U.S.-based audiences for promotions could also pose legal risks.

Sources

• Protos
• Dust2 (Counter-Strike news outlet)
• Wall Street Journal