Durian Dynamite

What is Durian Dynamite?

After assessing part of a 75-page PDF spreadsheet of transactions provided by Evolution, Spectrum found crypto wagers had been placed on Evolution games provided by Hub88, as alleged by Black Cube.

Up to 1,124 occurrences of virtual currencies being used were discovered by Spectrum, which added up to 11.5% of the sessions included in the spreadsheet provided by Evolution.

“Spectrum notes that Evolution relies upon its clients to develop and implement these additional AML and KYC procedures. Further, Evolution does not review the operator’s compliance with this requirement of enhanced due diligence,” the report says of Evolution’s compliance processes for preventing the use of virtual currencies.

What is Durian Dynamite?

“The Commission’s approach to reporting may well create the inaccurate impression that the industry is inherently non-compliant,” he adds. A more balanced account might place failures alongside the majority of licensees that pass assessments or lead on customer wellbeing, although Waugh considers such a shift unlikely.

The “too easy to get a licence” argument doesn’t necessarily hold up to scrutiny, to be fair. Andrew Bentley, co-founder and CEO of regulatory technology startup LiSense, is one who rejects the suggestion.

“There are significant checks on individuals and businesses before a licence is granted,” he says. “The UK Gambling Commission has set out what it expects. If you want a licence in the UK, you need to meet those expectations.”

What is Durian Dynamite?

A month earlier, Polymarket opened a free grocery store in New York City. The promotion ran Feb. 12-16, with shoppers allowed to gather up to $50 per person in free groceries.   

More recently, Polymarket has paid top dollar for prominent athletes and celebrities to promote its prediction market. The company’s paid partners include LeBron James, Derek Jeter, Eli Manning, Spike Lee, and Craig Robinson.

The Polymarket water tower can be seen from I-94, but isn’t overly prominent, as the interstate passes beneath three bridges—Concord Avenue, train tracks, and a service road—near the Mount Elliott exit.