Polymarket, Kalshi contract limits demonstrated in latest U.S. government shutdown fight

The U.S. government was set for a partial shutdown starting Saturday morning because the House of Representatives was out of session and could not vote on the Senate's funding package until Monday. This situation, unlike the previous lengthy shutdown, underscored the importance of precise language in prediction market contracts on platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, which allowed users to bet on the shutdown's occurrence. Different contracts defined a shutdown in varying ways, often relying on announcements from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to resolve the bet, even for a partial lapse in funding. For example, one contract resolved to 'Yes' if OPM announced a shutdown by a specific date and time, while another focused on the President failing to sign funding bills by a deadline, which was impossible until the House reconvened.

(Source：CoinDesk)