White House staff members received an email warning last month instructing them not to place bets on prediction markets using nonpublic information, according to multiple administration officials who spoke with CBS News.

The warning comes as prediction markets have grown significantly in popularity, with users placing bets on various global events and political outcomes. These platforms allow participants to wager money on the likelihood of specific events occurring, from election results to policy decisions.

The email appears to address potential ethical and legal concerns about government employees using privileged information they may have access to through their official duties. Federal employees are subject to various ethics rules and restrictions regarding financial activities that could create conflicts of interest.

Prediction markets have become increasingly prominent in recent years as alternative methods for gauging public sentiment and forecasting political and economic events. The platforms have attracted both casual users and serious investors looking to profit from their knowledge of current events.

The White House has not publicly commented on the specific content of the internal email or the circumstances that prompted the warning to staff members.