Was it right to let deluded Trumpsters bet real money on their man after he lost the election?

Letting people gamble their cash on whatever improbable idea they have is what a free society means, writes John Rentoul. But it is not without moral problems

Betfair closed its controversial ‘next president’ wager only earlier this week  (EPA)

For weeks after the US election it was possible to make money by betting against Donald Trump being the next president. Indeed, it was possible until last week, even after enough states had certified their electors for the electoral college to guarantee Trump’s defeat. 

The college duly met on Monday to confirm that Joe Biden had indeed won the election, by 306 votes to 232, and Betfair finally closed its controversial “next president” market.  

Most conventional bookmakers settled their bets soon after the election, but Betfair is different, in that it is an online marketplace in which individuals place bets with each other. In theory, you can bet on pretty much anything, as long as you can find someone through the website who is prepared to bet the opposite.