Nate Tramdaks, Staff Writer

Kalshi, a sport gambling company, finalized a deal and partnership with Epic Games over the weekend. Klashi is bringing a prediction-market style feature to Fortnite called “Fortnite Futures.” This feature will allow players to trade contracts on in-game outcomes, using the in-game premium currency, V-Bucks, as the settlement tool. V-Bucks can be acquired by purchasing them with U.S. dollars or, the game allowing you to work for them, though this path does not render many V-Bucks. 

Starting next month, Fortnite players will be able to bet on anything from winning in a game, survival time, final zone location and eliminations. “Things as o/u 3.5 eliminations,” “Will I place Top 10 – Y/N,” “Will I survive for 10 minutes – Y/N.” This new feature provides players with two ways to bet: against the house or against other players. Against the house is simple. Players make bets before or during the game and losses go to Fortnite, and wins flow from Fortnite to you. Against other players is also interesting; you can wager against another player a variety of different bets, and the wins and losses flow from the loser to winner. 

From Fortnite’s standpoint, this new feature is supposed to entice players and users to stay on the game longer. Instead of returning to the lobby after being eliminated, they can spectate the match and make live bets on the game they were a part of. They are aiming at a slow burn over the quick match turnover they have now. Moreover, the prospect of acquiring enough V-Bucks to purchase their favorite in-game cosmetics should be enough motivation to keep kids playing longer. Kalshi’s end of the deal sees them acquiring and getting introduced to a younger audience, like the cigarette-industry, prediction-markets and gambling institutions need more potential users in the pipeline. 

Of course, the common ground for the two partners on this deal is the prospect of thicker margins. With kids purchasing V-Bucks, that is money that goes into Epic Games’ pocket. The deal outlines that however much is wagered in-game in terms of USD, gets split 50-50 between the two companies. 

The announcement of the deal has left the gambling regulators, legislators and competitors of Kalshi dumbfounded. The Kalshi x Fortnite deal is using a “gambling loophole,” allowing persons under the age of 18 to partake in sweepstakes. Since users/players are not actually placing bets with real money, rather the fake in-game currency, the act is not deemed gambling. Motions have already been filed against the predatory partnership, but not much can be about it in the short-term. Since this is a sound loophole, the lower courts will not be able to overturn the partnership. This case will likely be sent to the Supreme Court where it will sit as a low priority case for years–that is until more data comes out about the negative effects of this partnership. 

Claire Herquet, Editor

PHILADELPHIA – La Salle University sent a campus-wide email Monday morning reminding students that, regardless of the situation, they are expected to “just figure it out.”

The email, sent from University Marketing and Communications with the subject line “Important Information for the La Salle Community,” appeared in inboxes at 7:46 a.m., a time typically reserved for loud alarms and dread.

“As Explorers, students are encouraged to navigate challenges independently,” the email read. “Please utilize the available resources, previous emails, signs that may or may not be correct and personal resilience.”

The message did not specify which challenge it was referring to. Within minutes, students across campus attempted to determine whether the email applied to:

• The really hard to open front door they just tried at Founders’ Hall (Lasallians should be lifting more I guess) 
• The Grubhub app being down while trying to order at Burgers & Fries 
• Or the fact that your car can get stolen out of the St. Miguel Townhouses parking lot while you’re sleeping

“I thought it was about advising,” said a sophomore standing outside an office in Hayman Hall. “But then I realized it could also be about financial aid or parking since students have issues there all the time.”

According to the message, students are urged to “use available resources,” which apparently include:

• A La Salle office phone number that goes straight to voicemail
• A QR code on a flyer posted in the Student Union that leads nowhere
• And asking that one friend who “knows stuff” and is wrong or doesn’t know 80% of the time

When asked what students should do if those resources fail, a university official replied, “That’s where figuring it out comes in.”

Reactions ranged from amused to numb.

“Honestly, it’s refreshing,” said a first-year student in the Student Union, waiting for their order while the screen displayed five orders ahead of them, yet they had been waiting for 45 minutes. “Most universities pretend that they have answers. La Salle just tells you to build character.”

A junior added that the message perfectly captured life at La Salle. “They don’t call us Explorers because it sounds fun,” he said. “They call us that because we’re constantly wandering around campus looking for offices, classrooms or a printer that works.”

University officials later clarified that the message was intentional. “We believe ambiguity prepares students for the real world,” the official said. “Much like navigating College Hall in the dark or determining whether the shuttle is running or simply being imagined.”

“At a certain point, you stop asking,” said a senior walking across the Quad. “You just figure it out. Or you don’t. That’s La Salle.”