Indicted Officer Says "Entire IAF" Gambles on Israeli Security

An Israeli Air Force officer charged Monday with allegedly using classified military information to place bets on Polymarket claimed during court proceedings that gambling on similar platforms is widespread throughout the Air Force.

The officer is accused of betting on military operations conducted by the IDF, including using sensitive information to seek financial gain. Prosecutors asked that he remain in custody until the investigation is completed, and the court rejected his request to be released to house arrest.

The prosecution argued that the officer had shown a willingness to “sell information for financial benefits,” even at the risk of endangering Israeli Air Force pilots and military operations.

The judge handling the case said the allegations went far beyond gambling.

“This is not just a ‘gambling story,’ but a serious treatise of wrongful acts committed out of a pursuit of excitement and lust for financial gain, while completely ignoring their consequences and the most basic moral and ethical norms,” the judge said.

According to the court, the decision to keep the officer in custody was based not only on the seriousness of the alleged offenses, but on the danger posed by the sale or misuse of classified information. The court said the concern was that the suspect could endanger national security if he repeated the conduct.

In his defense, the officer claimed he had not understood the severity of his actions, saying that similar gambling was common among service members.

“The entire Israel Air Force is involved in gambling,” he claimed.

The court said that claim was not directly relevant to the question of his detention, but added that it required a separate investigation within the military.

The case comes amid broader concern over soldiers and officers with access to sensitive information allegedly using that knowledge for personal financial gain. Since the beginning of the year, several cases have been reported involving IDF personnel accused of exploiting classified or operational information in connection with prediction-market platforms.

In February, an Israeli civilian and an IDF reservist were indicted on charges of using classified military information to place wagers on Polymarket. That case, like the current one, raised concerns about how digital betting platforms could create incentives for security personnel to misuse operational knowledge.

Polymarket allows users to bet on the outcome of future events, including political, military and global developments. In wartime, prosecutors argue, access to sensitive military information could allow insiders to profit while exposing operations, pilots and soldiers to serious risk.

The latest indictment is expected to increase pressure on the IDF to examine whether gambling on military-related outcomes is more widespread than previously known.