Because insurance is quite literally a prediction market.
Not trying to be snarky, I know certain religions actually do consider insurance to be gambling.
I think, indeed, a lot of people are effectively using the markets to gamble, but the same can be said for equities/futures.
I see no reason they shouldn't be allowed, since there are proxies that people can trade as well
They describe it as "profit from your knowledge by betting on future events across various topics" on their own website.
Betfair Exchange can be used to make predictions, too. They call it "implied probability" and it's always been a feature of their product.
My concern is the use of terminology to describe a gambling product as something else entirely.
Is it a prediction market than can be used to gamble?
Or is it a gambling exchange that can be used to make predictions?
An insurance company sells options contracts. We call it healthcare. It is , aside from a few small differences, the same as a put or a call.
An insurance company's day-to-day operation is indistinguishable from a derivatives hedge desk. Insurance companies absolutely take massive bets. These are managed by re-insurers.