Polymarket bettors have wagered over $500,000 on sex toys to be thrown at WNBA games.
The world’s largest prediction market has come under fire for offering bets on the controversial practice, which is reportedly linked to a cryptocurrency group’s money scheme.
Multiple WNBA games have been interrupted in recent weeks after sex toys were thrown onto courts, leaving players and coaches frustrated.
There has been nearly $200,000 matched on the crypto betting site for sex toys to be thrown during games on Saturday, August 9 alone.
According to Polymarket, a qualifying object is exclusively a ‘dildo’ – defined as an object shaped like an erect penis used for sexual stimulation and other sex toys will not qualify.
Just last month, Polymarket made a return to the US market after striking a $112 million deal with derivatives exchange QCEX.
Group Behind Memecoin ‘Green Dildo Coin’ Claim Responsibility For Sex Toy Stunts
Elizabeth Williams of the Chicago Sky called it “super disrespectful” while Minnesota Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve said “the sexualisation of women is what’s used to hold women down, and this is no different.”
A pseudonymous group behind a memecoin called ‘Green Dildo Coin’ claimed responsibility for the stunts, reportedly a coordinated effort to boost the visibility and trading volume of the $DILDO token which was launched on July 28.
The first incident occurred a day later on July 29 during a game between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries, when a bright green sex toy with the project’s hashtag written on it was thrown onto the court.
Since then there have been two people arrested in connection with the stunts in different cities. Delbert Carver, 23 of Marietta, Georgia was detained on August 1 for allegedly throwing one onto the court at the end of the Dream’s home game against the Phoenix Mercury.
Carver tried to flee the scene but was eventually caught and also confessed to throwing the first sex toy on July 29 as well. He faces counts of disorderly conduct, public indecency/indecent exposure and criminal trespass.
Joe Lyons is a betting industry writer for GamblingIndustryNews with years of experience on reputable gambling websites. Joe specialises in long form content in the world of sports betting and gambling. Joe is recognised as an expert in sports fields such as horse racing, soccer, NFL and NBA.
