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Or sign-in if you have an account.A LED sphere screen shows information inside the new location of the prediction market online platform Polymarket called "The Situation Room," during its opening day in Washington, D.C., on March 20, 2026. Photo by Théo MARIE-COURTOIS /AFP via Getty ImagesSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorPrediction markets are ramping up in Canada, but there’s mixed feelings about their arrival and strong concerns about what they should be allowed to do, says a poll by Angus Reid Institute.About 40 per cent of Canadians oppose prediction markets — which allow wagers to be placed on the outcome of political events, economic data and even the weather — compared with 26 per cent who favour permitting them, according to an online survey of 1,803 adults released on Tuesday. But even those who support the platforms called for strict regulations.Prediction markets have taken off over the past year and a half and platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi are estimated to be worth US$20 billion each. But they have courted plenty of controversy and fire from United States regulators and investors over accusations that people may be benefitting from insider knowledge.Breaking business news, incisive views, must-reads and market signals. Weekdays by 9 a.m.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Posthaste will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againFor example, media outlets on Thursday reported that a Google LLC engineer had been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice over the use of the internet giant’s most-searched list to rig bets on Polymarket.An even darker side is that some wagers are being made on how many people would be killed in conflicts.Nevertheless, Canada took another baby step in March by announcing that fintech company Wealthsimple Investments Inc. had received regulatory approval to offer “futures and forecast contracts tied to economic indicators, financial markets and climate trends.”Wealthsimple, which has yet to announce when it will offer a prediction market, wasn’t the first out of the gate in Canada: Interactive Brokers Canada Inc., an automated global electronic broker, launched such a platform in April 2025.Regulations in Canada prohibit prediction markets from allowing bets to be placed on sports or elections.While overall feelings about the predictions market operating in Canada are mixed, people threw up strong opposition to allowing some bets to be placed.For example, 70 per cent opposed allowing bets on war casualties versus 11 per cent in favour, and 68 per cent strongly opposed betting on the death of politicians versus 11 per cent in favour.Majorities, ranging from 53 per cent to 56 per cent, said wagering on events such as corporate outcomes and elections should also be banned.People took a more relaxed view of sporting events, with 42 per cent supporting prediction market bets while 34 per cent opposed them.Prediction markets have also been criticized for being nothing more than gambling sites, with 35 per cent agreeing with that statement, while another 15 per cent said prediction markets combined gambling and useful forecasting tools.But Canadians are neophytes at using them, with only four per cent placing a bet through them, though that swells to 22 per cent in the case of sports bettors.Knowledge or awareness of the sector was highest among men aged 35 to 54, while three in 10 young men said they “know a lot” about prediction markets.The fight over prediction markets is only set to grow.On Wednesday U.S. President Donald Trump called some state lawmakers “scum” for seeking to put prediction markets under gambling regulations.Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., is an adviser to Polymarket and Kalshi.— with files from Naimul Karim, Financial Post Sign up here to get Posthaste delivered straight to your inbox.Canadians imported a record amount of goods in the first quarter, driven primarily by surging prices for gold and other metals, causing the current account deficit to widen.That deficit surged to $7.2 billion from $1 billion a quarter ago. The figure, released Thursday, surpassed the $4.3 billion expected by economists in a Bloomberg survey.Imports climbed 5.5 per cent to a record $211 billion, led by metals and non-metallic mineral products, which rose by 38.3 per cent. Gold hit an intraday record of more than US$5,500 at the end of January.Canadians also sold the precious metal, but to a lesser degree, with metals and mineral exports rising 11.2 per cent. Exports overall grew 3.9 per cent to $203.3 billion, also supported by a 16.1 per cent jump in energy products. — BloombergFind out more here.Today’s data: Canada first quarter GDP annualized and Statistics Canada flash estimate for April, U.S. advance goods trade balance, retail and wholesale inventoriesEarnings: District Metals Corp., Laurentian Bank of Canada, Realbotix Corp.Greg, 61, and his wife, 58, adopted two children who are now in their early teens. The couple is thinking of retiring within one or two years with net assets totalling $4.2 million and zero debt. But they need some help. The pair are looking for overall investment advice, a retirement withdrawal strategy and estate advice for the kids’ inheritance. FP Answers has some suggestions. Interested in energy? The subscriber-only FP West: Energy Insider newsletter brings you exclusive reporting and in-depth analysis on one of the country’s most important sectors. Sign up here.Are you worried about having enough for retirement? Do you need to adjust your portfolio? Are you starting out or making a change and wondering how to build wealth? Are you trying to make ends meet? Drop us a line at wealth@postmedia.com with your contact info and the gist of your problem and we’ll find some experts to help you out while writing a Family Finance story about it (we’ll keep your name out of it, of course).Want to learn more about mortgages? Mortgage strategist Robert McLister’s Financial Post column can help navigate the complex sector, from the latest trends to financing opportunities you won’t want to miss. Plus check his mortgage rate page for Canada’s lowest national mortgage rates, updated daily.Visit the Financial Post’s YouTube channel for interviews with Canada’s leading experts in business, economics, housing, the energy sector and more.Today’s Posthaste was written by Gigi Suhanic with additional reporting from Financial Post staff and Bloomberg.Have a story idea, pitch, embargoed report, or a suggestion for this newsletter? Email us at posthaste@postmedia.com.Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the business news you need to know — add financialpost.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. 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