Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud How betting has infiltrated entertainment, and the tumultuous revamping of CBS
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Jan 15, 2026 Alyssa Mercante, a Senior reporter at Digiday, and Matthew Frank, an Associate editor at The Ankler, dive into how gambling is taking over mainstream entertainment, impacting everything from Oscar predictions to video games. They discuss the rise of prediction markets and the blurred lines between betting and political events. Jeremy Barr from The Guardian shares insights into the turmoil at CBS News under Bari Weiss, explaining the underlying tensions and their broader implications. The conversation reveals a cultural shift where gambling influences our enjoyment of art and media.
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Markets Shift From Politics To Culture
- Prediction markets expanded from politics to entertainment after 2024 and now let users bet on Rotten Tomatoes and other cultural metrics.
- Matthew Frank notes this growth creates legal and ethical gray areas, including insider advantage concerns.
Rotten Tomatoes Trader Story
- Matthew Frank recounted a trader who reportedly made $400,000 betting Rotten Tomatoes by tracking critic habits.
- The trader attracted suspicion for possible insider-like advantages despite denying direct industry access.
Gambling Inside User-Created Games
- Gambling reappeared in games via monetized user-created islands on Fortnite and Roblox, often with wheel-spins and loot mechanics.
- Alyssa Mercante warns these features functionally recreate gambling for younger players.