Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for president, has increased his lead in betting odds against Democratic contender Kamala Harris as the 2024 election campaign nears its conclusion.

Trump’s boost follows various canceled media appearances and an event on Univision where he referred to the January 6 insurrection as a “day of love” and reiterated false claims about migrants in Springfield, Ohio, which sparked violent threats.

Democrats are expressing concerns about Trump’s age and demeanor at his rallies, including one in Oaks, Pennsylvania, where there were medical emergencies in the crowd. On Saturday, during a speech in western Pennsylvania, Trump drew attention by discussing the male anatomy of the late golf icon Arnold Palmer.

The Harris campaign argues that Trump is too old and erratic for the presidency, mirroring earlier sentiments that prompted President Joe Biden to withdraw from the race.

Trump currently enjoys the largest lead in betting odds since Harris entered the race in late July, although U.S. bookmakers are prohibited from participating in this market.

Timeline of Presidential Betting Odds

Current Presidential Betting Odds as of 10/21

Bet 365

• Donald Trump: -163
• Kamala Harris: +130

via Covers.com

Bovada

• Donald Trump: -160
• Kamala Harris: +135

BetOnline

• Donald Trump: -155
• Kamala Harris: +135

Oddschecker

• Donald Trump: -143
• Kamala Harris: +150

Significant Bets Stir Concerns in Prediction Market

Recent reports from the Wall Street Journal reveal that four anonymous accounts have invested a combined total of $30 million in cryptocurrency bets on Trump for the election, raising eyebrows regarding the swift shift in prediction market odds favoring Trump.

Polymarket, a betting platform often endorsed by billionaire Trump supporter Elon Musk, has moved from nearly equal odds two weeks ago between Harris and Trump to showing Trump with a 62% likelihood of winning compared to Harris’s 38% chance.

This change in odds aligns with the $30 million in bets placed on Trump from four individuals identified as redi9999, Theo4, PrincessCaro, and Michie. All four accounts reportedly received funds from the same U.S. cryptocurrency exchange, Kraken, according to Arkham, a company that assesses blockchain and cryptocurrency transactions.

Miguel Morel, Arkham’s founder, stated to the WSJ, “There’s strong reason to believe they are the same entity.”

While these bets are not illegal and may not have malicious intent, some analysts view them as potentially part of a campaign to influence public perception and social media chatter regarding Trump’s favorable position.

The election forecasting site FiveThirtyEight, which utilizes a polling-based model, slightly favors Trump with a 52% chance of winning, compared to Harris’s 48% chance of success.