Season 5 Episode 8: Arya and Jaqen H’ghar discuss the case where someone bets that their ship won’t successfully make the voyage, i.e., that he will die. In essence, they are discussing the ship captain taking life insurance, as the family will be paid if the captain dies. Life insurance is common in the US, with 50% of adults having some life insurance. In Game of Thrones, Arya and Jaqen H’ghar also discuss the recourse if the “life insurance company” won’t pay. In modern markets, the reputation of the insurer is a powerful factor that encourages repayment, and the court system is also available to adjudicate grievances.
