Some researchers funded by predatory gambling interests attempt to argue that after the introduction of extreme forms of gambling into a community addiction rates will spike but then, over a period of years, addiction rates will decline once people “adapt” to its availability. It is called the “social adaptation theory.” Here is a memo showing why this theory is misplaced and how the only thing people are adapting to is losing more money than ever before.
“They Looked Like They Were Getting Rich on Polymarket— but None of It Was Real” | Wall Street Journal
June 22, 2026
By Katherine Long, Caitlin Ostroff, Neil Mehta and Brenna T. Smith “The prediction market has flooded social media with deceptive