60 Minutes Tonight

60 Minutes Reports on “Betting on War” & “The Looting of Cambodia” on June 28 2026

by · June 26, 2026

CBS’s 60 Minutes returns with an encore presentation on Sunday, June 28, featuring updated versions of two investigative reports that remain strikingly relevant. From the controversial rise of prediction markets that allow users to wager on geopolitical events to one of history’s largest cultural thefts, the broadcast explores how money, conflict, and power intersect on the global stage.

Jon Wertheim examines how sensitive intelligence may be influencing financial markets tied to international crises, while Anderson Cooper delivers an extended investigation into the systematic looting of Cambodia’s ancient heritage and the country’s ongoing fight to reclaim thousands of priceless artifacts.

Betting on War

Online prediction markets have expanded rapidly in recent years, allowing participants to speculate on everything from elections to economic data. Increasingly, however, these platforms have become venues for betting on international conflicts, military actions, and the fate of world leaders. The growing popularity of these markets has raised concerns among governments, regulators, and intelligence officials about whether privileged information could be exploited for financial gain.

The report takes on new urgency following the indictment of a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier accused of using classified intelligence to place online bets. Prosecutors allege the information provided an unfair advantage in predicting major geopolitical developments, highlighting how sensitive government intelligence could potentially be converted into personal profit.

Correspondent Jon Wertheim explores how recent global events, including the conflict involving Iran and speculation surrounding Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, produced unusual betting activity that appeared to anticipate significant developments. Investigators and market observers have questioned whether some of these wagers reflected remarkable foresight or possible access to information unavailable to the public.

The investigation examines whether prediction markets have inadvertently created an entirely new form of insider trading, where classified intelligence rather than corporate information becomes the valuable commodity. As these platforms continue to grow, lawmakers and regulators face mounting questions over how to oversee markets that blur the line between forecasting world events and profiting from confidential information.

The Looting of Cambodia

In the broadcast’s extended second half, Anderson Cooper presents a double-length investigation into what many experts believe could be the largest art theft operation in history. The report follows a year-long investigation into the widespread looting of Cambodia’s sacred temples, where thousands of priceless stone sculptures, bronze statues, and gold artifacts disappeared during decades of instability.

The thefts occurred throughout periods of genocide, civil war, and political upheaval, when many of Cambodia’s historic religious sites were left vulnerable to organized looting. Once removed, the artifacts entered an international network of dealers and collectors before eventually appearing in prestigious museums and private collections around the world.

Central to the investigation is British antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford, who is accused of orchestrating a sophisticated operation that moved countless Cambodian treasures into the global art market. The report examines how valuable cultural objects were separated from their historical context and sold to some of the world’s wealthiest collectors while questions about their origins often went unchallenged.

For more than a decade, the Cambodian government has worked to locate and recover these missing artifacts. Officials argue the objects are not simply valuable works of art but irreplaceable pieces of the nation’s cultural identity and religious heritage. The investigation follows these ongoing efforts to return the artifacts to Cambodia, where they can once again be preserved as part of the country’s history.

Through interviews, archival material, and extensive reporting, the segment explores the lasting consequences of cultural theft and the complex legal and ethical issues surrounding ownership, restitution, and museum collections.

An Encore With Timely Updates

Although both reports originally aired previously, 60 Minutes has updated the investigations for this postseason encore presentation to reflect recent developments. The stories demonstrate how issues surrounding global security, financial markets, cultural heritage, and international justice continue to evolve long after the original broadcasts.

The June 28 edition offers viewers two compelling investigations that examine the consequences of exploiting both confidential information and cultural history for personal gain, reinforcing the program’s longstanding focus on accountability and in-depth reporting.

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Ryan Gill

Ryan is a passionate follower of true crime television programs, reporting on and providing in-depth investigations on mysteries in the criminal world.

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