Israeli authorities have charged two suspects with security offences, bribery and obstruction of justice, alleging they used classified information to bet on the timing of military operations on the prediction market Polymarket. The indictment follows reports of suspicious betting activity on strikes involving Iran and Israel between June 2025 and January 2026, which generated profits of about $156,000.
One suspect is Omer Ziv, 30, from Tel Aviv, who has worked in affiliate marketing for online gambling. The second defendant is a major in the Israeli air force reserves, whose identity remains undisclosed on national security grounds. Prosecutors have summoned 45 witnesses, and both defendants have been ordered to remain in custody until trial.
The defendants have argued that other reservists arrested for similar crimes were released, amounting to selective enforcement. The major's lawyers stated their client made 'significant contributions to the security of the state' and alleged improper conduct by investigative authorities. The case highlights the lack of legal precedent for war gambling, with only one other similar arrest in the US involving a soldier charged with insider trading over Venezuela-related bets.
