Polymarket Accepting Wagers on the Future of UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Suspect

It's not one of our best sports betting sites, but it's made the news plenty in the last couple of months.

Betting and event predictions platform Polymarket is now accepting wagers on the future of Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The markets started launching last Monday following the announcement of Mangione’s arrest in a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania.

Some of the most popular trade markets include betting on whether Mangione will plead guilty, which Polymarket gives a 25% chance and has seen $117,000 in action. Meanwhile, almost $160,000 has been bet on whether the Luigi Mangione YouTube Channel is real, with Polymarket giving this a likelihood of 100%.

Other markets include whether Mangione is gay, when he will be extradited to New York, whether he used a 3D-printed gun in the murder, or if he was motivated by a denied health claim.

What is Mangione accused of?

Mangione is the lead suspect in the murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, who was shot on December 4 outside the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan. The 50-year-old victim was scheduled to speak at a conference later that day and was staying at the Marriott down the street. 

CCTV footage captured the build-up to the murder, showing a hooded figure waiting outside the Hilton for around five minutes. Once Thompson walked past, the figure tried to fire at his back, unjammed his gun, and then shot Thompson in the back and the leg.

Further investigations by the New York Police Department released CCTV footage showing a hooded figure with a mask halfway down his face. With this footage, employees in a McDonald’s in PA noticed Mangione and alerted the authorities to his whereabouts.

The search for a figure in the murder had expanded into a multi-state search, including following leads in Georgia. Still, Pennsylvania was not one of the states where authorities were searching.

What is happening with Mangione now?

Police recently found fingerprint matches between Mangione and a water bottle and protein bar near the crime scene. The gun found with the 26-year-old suspect also matches the type of shells found at the site of Thompson’s death. 

Currently, Magione is waiting for the extradition process from Pennsylvania to New York, which can take days or weeks because the states have different judicial systems. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has said she will provide a warrant, commenting, “I am co-ordinating with the District Attorney's Office and will sign a request for a governor's warrant to ensure this individual is tried and held accountable.”

What is Polymarket?

Polymarket is a predictions site that lets you place event contract wagers on current events. The platform rose to prominence during the US elections, drawing several significant wagers, including a bettor who made $48 million profit following the election victory of Donald Trump. Polymarket is not licensed to operate in the US.

The company has faced challenges since rising to prominence during the elections, occupying one of the top spots on the Apple App Store. The site was banned in France due to breaking French betting regulations, and the CEO, Shayne Coplan, had his home raided by the FBI.