A Super Bowl clip showing Logan Paul appearing to place a $1 million bet on the New England Patriots through Polymarket was quickly challenged by on-chain observers. Polymarket shared footage of Paul “checking Polymarket at the Big Game,” but critics soon argued that the account tied to the stunt did not have the funds needed to execute the wager.
On-chain reviewers say the wager was never actually possible
According to Protos, crypto investigator ZachXBT reviewed the largest holders in that market and said none matched the size of the bet Paul appeared to present. He described the episode as “yet another Logan Paul scam,” a remark that brought renewed attention to Paul’s earlier CryptoZoo project, which allegedly cost investors tens of thousands of dollars and remains tied to multiple ongoing lawsuits.
The incident also sparked speculation over whether Paul had an undisclosed relationship with Polymarket. ZachXBT said the WWE personality had livestreamed attempts to promote the platform before, describing those efforts as “inorganic.” The source material does not include a response from Polymarket on that point.
Prediction market platforms are already under legal pressure
The dispute arrived as prediction market operators face legal challenges in the United States. Polymarket recently sued Massachusetts in an effort to stop the state from shutting down its sports betting markets. The company argues that federal law and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission are the authorities permitted to regulate these contracts.
Kalshi, a rival platform, has also drawn criticism over its marketing. Crypto commentator “DeFi_Dad,” echoing Warren Buffett, called such ads “rat poison squared” and argued they encourage users to treat gambling like investing. BetHog CEO Nigel Eccles raised a similar objection, saying Kalshi’s campaigns target young adults with messages that encourage risky gambling and raise concerns tied to underage and problem gambling.
Game outcome did little to quiet the broader debate
Seattle eventually beat the Patriots 29–13, meaning Paul avoided any financial hit from the supposed wager. The controversy did not end with the scoreline. Celebrity promotion of crypto prediction markets, the legal status of those platforms in the U.S., and the ethics of advertising gambling-like products to the public all remain under close scrutiny.