Betr Buys Ascent Capital to Launch Prediction Markets

Betr has acquired Ascent Capital to accelerate its entry into U.S. prediction markets, with plans to embed prediction market access directly inside its app using Polymarket's underlying technology.

Why It Matters

Prediction markets are one of the fastest-growing intersections of crypto and regulated gaming, and a Jake Paul-backed operator moving aggressively into the space signals mainstream appetite for the product. Embedding Polymarket-powered contracts inside an existing sportsbook-style app lowers the friction barrier considerably — users won't need a separate crypto wallet or exchange account to participate. That distribution edge could matter enormously in a nascent U.S. market where regulatory frameworks are still forming. For competitors, it raises the stakes: prediction markets may shift from novelty to table-stakes feature faster than most operators planned. As always, prediction markets carry real financial risk, and outcomes are never guaranteed.

Context

Betr, co-founded by influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul and sports media entrepreneur Joey Levy, originally launched as a micro-betting sportsbook. Polymarket emerged as the dominant decentralised prediction market platform during the 2024 U.S. election cycle, processing hundreds of millions in volume on political and event-based contracts. Ascent Capital appears to provide the regulatory and structural scaffolding Betr needs to bring those instruments to American users within a compliant wrapper. Full details via iGaming Business.

What's Next

Betr will focus on integrating Ascent's infrastructure to launch in-app prediction markets, though a specific go-live date has not been publicly confirmed. Regulatory approvals in target U.S. states will likely define the timeline.

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