‘Survivor’ Boss Jeff Probst Says Kalshi and Polymarket Are ‘Incentivizing People to Lie, Cheat and Steal’; Kalshi Is Now Considering Measures to Prevent Spoilers (EXCLUSIVE)

Jeff Probst is slamming prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket for allowing users to make trades about who won “Survivor” Season 50, saying that the companies are “incentivizing people to lie, cheat and steal to get ahead.”

“They have figured out a way to capitalize on [the show],” he tells Variety. “It doesn’t sit well with me as a human. I get it — they built a great business. They don’t care.”

Aubry Bracco wasn’t officially crowned as the Sole Survivor of “Survivor 50” until the finale on Wednesday night, but many fans were spoiled on her win in advance due to widely circulated reports about her odds on Kalshi and Polymarket. On both platforms, she was forecast to have above an 80% chance of winning before the season even premiered. By the finale, Kalshi’s “Survivor” market had reached a volume of $32.7 million, with Bracco at 97% odds.

Moments before the premiere debuted on Wednesday night, Kalshi sent out a push notification that read, “Survivor S50 finale TONIGHT. Aubry’s at 97% — is the island already decided?”

Probst learned how much money was in Kalshi’s “Survivor” market, and that they’d sent out the cheeky notification, for the first time while being interviewed by Variety. “I’m not happy about it,” he said. “I am learning this in real time — this is announced before our finale?”

As reported by Variety, Hollywood executives are concerned that the growing popularity of prediction markets is leading to insider trading and that widespread spoilers will reduce suspense and hurt their shows’ ratings. But Kalshi is adamant that its ban on insider trading is being enforced effectively and that its “Survivor” market has been thoroughly investigated. Executives at the company believe traders are drawing from public rumors on Reddit and other online communities — and while the anonymous people starting those rumors might be insiders breaking their NDAs, the traders listening to them are still following the law. Therefore, it’s not up to Kalshi to crack down on them.

“Survivor” cast and crew members all sign agreements that prohibit the use of insider knowledge for gambling or any monetary gain, and additional reminders — specifically mentioning Kalshi and Polymarket — were sent out during the release of Season 50. CBS is also incorporating language about prediction markets in “Survivor” contracts moving forward.

But Probst maintains that it’s unfair to put the onus on networks and studios to manage the spread of these spoilers.

“Clearly, if 90% of the people are voting for somebody, there’s a leak. But to look at us, the producers, as though we have a problem, is the mirror pointing in the wrong direction,” he says. “[Prediction market platforms] are the ones with the problem, not us. We went and made our show in a vacuum, and we keep it very tightly contained, but if you are foolish and naive enough to not think that somebody might leak it, that’s your problem.”

He continues: “If the idea is that ‘Survivor’ needs to do a better job of managing our spoilers, you just don’t know anything about humans. That’s ridiculous. You’re telling me there’s a way I can make money by sharing information I have, and I might not ever get caught? Of course, people are going to do that. And if I found out somebody on our show bet on this, they’d be fired.”

In a new statement, Kalshi spokesperson Elisabeth Diana emphasizes the company’s position that prediction markets can be additive to the reality TV experience, creating excitement rather than stifling viewership. But the company is now taking Probst’s concerns to heart.

“If the market volume on ‘Survivor’ is any indication, this isn’t something that’s stopping people from caring about ‘Survivor,’” Diana says. “That being said, we’re looking at adding product features to prevent spoilers.”