688. When Is a Bet Not a Bet?

Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Sep 25, 202600:50:32Society & Culture

That’s the question at the heart of a battle between Kalshi and state gambling regulators. As prediction markets boom, there are other questions, too — about insider trading, market manipulation, and whether the public h...

Related Episodes

Continue listening to more episodes from Freakonomics Radio.

Are Private Equity Firms Plundering the U.S. Economy? (Update)

Oct 21, 2026 - 00:48:04

They say they make companies more efficient through savvy management. Critics say they bend the rules to...

691. Is This What a “Good Billionaire” Looks Like?

Oct 16, 2026 - 00:43:23

David Rubenstein, a product of the old bipartisan D.C., made his fortune in private equity. He’s been spe...

690. It’s Show Business, Baby!

Oct 9, 2026 - 01:01:50

Podcasting started as a niche-nerd pursuit. Now it’s a $9 billion industry. Is that a lot? The strange ec...

689. Here’s Why Your Hamburger Just Got So Pricey

Oct 2, 2026 - 00:49:25

An economist calls America’s beef industry a “miracle.” An antitrust scholar calls it “broken.” Maybe the...

687. Are Prediction Markets the Best Forecasting Tool Ever — or Just Another Casino?

Sep 18, 2026 - 00:48:39

The promise is that they can beat the experts at predicting inflation, elections, and FDA approvals. But...

How to Be a Double Unicorn, with John Urschel Better in Person

Sep 16, 2026 - 00:32:32

He was thriving in the N.F.L., but then he decided to focus on mathematics — a subject he now teaches at...

686. Why Is It So Hard to Find an NFL Quarterback?

Sep 11, 2026 - 00:58:20

For decades, teams have tried (and mostly failed) to predict which college quarterbacks will thrive in th...

Amazon Was Supposed to Kill the Bookstore. James Daunt Had Other Plans Better in Person

Sep 9, 2026 - 00:32:09

He started with one small shop in London. He has since resuscitated both Barnes & Noble and Waterstones....