Cardi B. Super Bowl Halftime Show Prop Bet Controversy Hits Prediction Markets

Submitted by Jordan Bach on

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Jordan Bach

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Cardi B Super Bowl Halftime Show

Cardi B's appearance during the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show featuring Bad Bunny has been mired in controversy this week courtesy of a popular prop bet being offered.

A popular prop bet asked whether the recording artist would be among those performing during the Halftime Show. 

While present, there is some debate as to whether she actually performed. 

More specifically, she did not appear to have a microphone attached to herself during the show.

Polymarket says Cardi B. did perform while  Kalshi determined she did not. Millions of dollars were wagered on this year's Halftime Show.

Kalshi chose to pay out traders at the last traded price, with “Yes” paying out at 26 percent and “No” at 74 percent due to ambiguity regarding the market.

From the New York Post

The resolution from the two primary prediction market shops has infuriated many, as Polymarket reported an obscene $5.4 million on Cardi B. alone, while Kalshi reported $47 million on the market for “Who will perform at the Big Game,” but it’s unknown at this time how much was traded on Cardi B. specifically.

The post also reports that one trader filed a complaint with the CFTC, seeking $ 3,700 in damages and claiming that Kalshi violated the Commodity Exchange Act.

“The rules were clear. Under the full rules, singing and dancing counted as a performance, but just dancing in the background did not,” a spokesperson for Kalshi tells The Post. “In the as-broadcast performance, Cardi B. was dancing and mouthing words to the song, but it was unclear if she was ‘singing.’ Karol G was not singing on the broadcast.”

“Kalshi’s CFTC-approved rules address situations like this. For Cardi B, this ambiguity means that settlement takes place at last-traded price. So people trading ‘No’ on Cardi B made 74c per on dollar traded, while ‘Yes’ holders got the other 26c. Kalshi keeps none of this – we just distribute the funds per our rules.”

Polymarket continues to offer trading on the number of views the Bad Bunny headlined Super Bowl Halftime Show receives via YouTube when all is said and done.  $229,000 (74%) has been traded on 75-100 million views thus far. 

  • Jordan Bach, Gambling911.com 

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