Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud made light of his involvement in prediction markets during a presidential event as Polymarket makes it way back to the US.
The royal from Saudi Arabia was visiting the United States for the first time in seven years to discuss political and economic matters with President Donald Trump, only weeks after Trump’s media company announced plans to add prediction markets to Truth Social through an exclusive partnership with Crypto.com’s Derivatives North America unit.
Bettors lose out on black tie betting on Mohammed bin Salman
The crown prince was given a fanfare welcome by the President, including an honour guard, fighter jet displays, and all the trimmings of the red carpet.
The display by the White House has been controversial amid crunch talks on oil, artificial intelligence, and nuclear capabilities.
US intelligence agencies assessed that the crown prince was likely involved in the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a conclusion that strained US–Saudi relations and distanced Saudi leadership from American political circles for nearly a decade.
Against this backdrop of unresolved geopolitical tension, attention still turned to prediction markets, which focused on Prince Mohammed’s attire at a black-tie event during his return to US soil.
The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia just referenced the polymarket about him wearing a suit & tie.
Simulation confirmed?pic.twitter.com/jPHJpDkzXK
— Polymarket (@Polymarket) November 19, 2025
Bettors had been given a seventeen times their initial stake opportunity if the crown prince was to attend an event hosted by the White House in a black suit.
He disappointed those staking on the possibility of him wearing the western formal suit, and both Kalshi and Polymarket posted on social media about his tongue-in-cheek response to the betting links.
pic.twitter.com/t44g1YkdHr The Crown Price of Saudi Arabia is a fan of prediction markets
Bullish
— Kalshi (@Kalshi) November 19, 2025
“Before I came here, someone told me that there are betting sites where you can bet on me wearing a black suit, and if you bet on me, you could get almost 17x. Sorry, you lose the bet. Better luck next time,” he said about the predictions market.
Outcome betting has been a varied and evolving marketplace since prediction markets played a considerable part in the previous presidential elections.
Other bets involving the Saudi stay included whether the President would embrace the crown prince in a hug, whether they would shake hands and also what the current President might mention in their exchange.
Ironically, Google announced on Wednesday (November 19) that Saudi Arabia was one of the countries that would restrict offline gaming advertisements, where these promotions violate the local laws.
Featured image: The White House via X
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