Revealed: Owner of Instagram and WhatsApp Secretly Develops Gambling-Style App
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Messenger, is reportedly secretly developing a ‘prediction market’ application similar to Polymarket and Kalshi. These platforms have become highly popular among internet users for ‘betting’ on a wide range of events.
The project, known internally by the code name ‘Arena’, has the potential to become a serious competitor to Polymarket and Kalshi, according to a report by The New York Times cited by the New York Post on Tuesday (23/06/2026).
This standalone application is designed to allow users to guess or predict the outcomes of various events, ranging from sporting matches and general elections to major news stories, economic data, and the entertainment industry.
However, there is a fundamental difference in the initial launch phase. Arena will not use real money for bets. Instead, the system will utilise points or values similar to video games, making it more focused on entertainment and social interaction.
Nevertheless, sources familiar with the plan stated that Meta is not ruling out the possibility of introducing a real-money betting system in the future, depending on market response and applicable legal regulations.
Arena is being developed as a standalone application, not directly integrated into Meta’s existing social media ecosystem. This move is considered a strategic step to maintain a boundary between messaging and content-sharing services, as prediction features carry their own specific risks and regulatory oversight requirements.
Meta possesses a significant advantage, as it currently boasts over 3.5 billion users. The company hopes this vast reach can accelerate the market adoption of Arena, while simultaneously serving as a new growth engine as user growth on its primary platforms begins to slow.
Event-based prediction and betting platforms have been on the rise over the last two years. Many users are drawn to predicting election results, sporting matches, and award winners. Polymarket and Kalshi are the two largest names dominating this segment, with systems that allow transactions using real money or cryptocurrency.
Although the project begins with a points-based system, the long-term plan that could lead to real-money betting raises significant regulatory questions. There is a possibility that Meta may use Instagram, WhatsApp, or Facebook to attract new users to Arena.
In Indonesia, gambling and betting activities are strictly prohibited by law, and rigorous supervision is enforced against any applications or services containing similar elements.
Meta has not yet provided an official response to these reports, nor regarding how the implementation plans will vary across countries with different legal frameworks.
In addition to Arena, Meta is also reportedly working on another project named ‘Meta Photos’, which focuses on creating new media content using artificial intelligence, as part of its strategy to explore new products beyond conventional social media.