I agree with you that the money changers were involved in exploitative practices and financial gain at the expense of others. I would argue that prediction markets (like Predyx) aren't exploitive in nature like traditional gambling with odds makers, where the house always wins. You aren't betting against the house with a prediction market. You're betting against a live market of participants. There is no "house."

But I do see that encouraging gambling in any capacity can be viewed as negative. For instance, I am totally against kids gambling. Gambling is now on Robinhood for all ages (I think). That's terrible IMO.

Gambling can be addictive which is also a big problem. But adults make the decisions for themselves on whether they want to gamble or not. When the people of the Bible wanted to engage in fair trade, usury and "unjust balances" from the money changers made the system unfair for them, and the people had to participate while having no say in the matter.

Those are my thoughts. I appreciate the discussion.