He Promoted Polymarket on His Property; Now Detroit Officials Will Visit Him

A business owner based in Detroit, US, is bracing for a rather uncomfortable visit after he decided to allow prediction market company Polymarket to advertise on a water tower located on his industrial property. Private Property But No Permit The water tower, located at Mount Elliott Crushing near Interstate 94, has been recently painted in Polymarket’s specific shade of blue and branded with the easily recognizable logo of the same company. The tall structure sits just off Mount Elliott Street at Exit 217, northeast of downtown Detroit. Although the tower stands on private property, the state of Detroit asks for permits for such advertisements to be placed on structures like water towers. According to the Detroit Free Press, the city has not issued such a permit for the said Polymarket advertisement. A spokesperson for Detroit’s Buildings, Safety, Engineering, and Environmental Department said an official would be sent to inspect the property. The visit could result in a correction order if it is determined that the advertisement has actually violated city requirements. No Stopping for Polymarket The situation comes as Polymarket continues to attract attention over its expanding presence in the US and its efforts to promote its prediction market platform in other parts of the world as well, not without backlash. The company and other prediction market operators involved in sports trading have argued that their platforms fall under federal financial regulation rather than state gambling laws. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has maintained that it has exclusive jurisdiction over sports prediction markets. That position is being challenged in several states, including Michigan. State Attorney General Dana Nessel has rejected arguments from Polymarket and the CFTC that the Michigan Gaming Control Board has no authority over prediction markets offering contracts tied to sports outcomes. Unusual Advertising The Detroit water tower is the latest example of Polymarket using unconventional marketing tactics to attract attention. Earlier this year, the company opened The Situation Room, a temporary news-themed bar in Washington, DC, where screens displayed financial terminals, news coverage, and social media feeds focused on current events. Polymarket also operated a free grocery store in New York City in February, allowing visitors to collect up to $50 worth of groceries during the promotion. The company has also brought well-known names into its marketing campaigns, including LeBron James, Derek Jeter, Eli Manning, Spike Lee and Craig Robinson. The Mount Elliott water tower is visible from I-94, but its location beneath several bridges means that the construction and, with it, Polymarket’s branding, are not particularly prominent for drivers passing by on the highway. For now, the next step rests with Detroit officials, who are expected to inspect the tower and determine whether further action is required.