TOP Prediction Markets in the USA, Reviewed for Sports Bettors (2026)
Kalshi, Polymarket, Robinhood, DraftKings Predictions, FanDuel Predicts, new Fanatics and more prediction market platforms in the United States — what these sites cover, what these apps really cost, where they’re legal, and how their event trading stack up against a sportsbook. Horse.bet does not have affiliate codes and agreements, we offer an overview, our reviews of their markets, promotions and official terms only.
Not in 2026. No major prediction market — Kalshi, Polymarket, DraftKings Predictions, FanDuel Predicts or Fanatics — offers Kentucky Derby or any pari-mutuel horse racing contracts. Polymarket briefly opened a 2026 Derby market, then refunded every trade and pulled it after Churchill Downs objected. Here’s why racing is the one sport they can’t touch.
Prediction market apps compared
Sports event contracts · June 2026Welcome offers below reflect each platform’s official program only. The “$10–$20 with code XYZ” deals you’ll see elsewhere are media-affiliate referral codes, not standing operator offers — we don’t list them.
| Platform | Type & regulator | Sports coverage | Official offer / cost | Where restricted | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KalshiStandalone exchange | CFTC DCM | 17 sports — NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, UFC, soccer; moneylines, futures, props, live, combos | Referral program (amount in-app); volume/liquidity rewards; 3.75% APY on $250+ | Not in AZ, IL, MA, MD, MI, MT, NJ, NV, OH | 4.7★ iOS | Review → |
| PolymarketStandalone exchange | CFTC · USDC | Deepest global volume; World Cup, soccer, major leagues; probability pricing | No trading fees in 2026 (official); promos are affiliate-only | Same contested states; crypto/USDC funding | 4.7★ iOS | Review → |
| RobinhoodPrediction Markets Hub | RHD · FCM | Event contracts via Kalshi/ForecastEX/Rothera; sports, fed rate, politics — in the Robinhood app | No prediction-specific bonus; ~10% fee, 5% with Gold ($5/mo) | Paused new sports contracts in NV | 4.3★ iOS | Review → |
| DraftKings PredictionsIn DK app | CME · Crypto.com | NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL + Crypto.com soccer/MMA/golf/tennis/Olympics; combos | Check current in-app offer (official) | Not where DK sportsbook is live; 38 states incl. CA/TX/GA | 4.8★ iOS | Review → |
| FanDuel PredictsStandalone app | CME · Crypto.com OG | Football, basketball, hockey, baseball + economic markets; live trading, early cash-out | Check current in-app offer (official) | Phased national rollout | 4.8★ iOS | Review → |
| Crypto.com (OG)OG Prediction Markets | CDNA · CFTC | Crypto-native; soccer, MMA, golf, boxing, tennis, Olympics; powers DK & FanDuel sports | Check current in-app offer (official) | Availability varies by state | 4.1★ iOS | In-app only |
| Fanatics MarketsIn Fanatics app | CDNA · CFTC | Sports-first; shared wallet with Fanatics Sportsbook; in-game trading | Check current in-app offer (official) | Availability varies by state | 4.6★ iOS | Review → |
Ratings are live US App Store averages verified June 2026 (Robinhood reflects the whole Robinhood app; OG is a new app on a small rating sample). State availability is in active litigation and changes month to month — each review carries a dated, verified status box.
Best Prediction Market Apps for the U.S. (2026)
Ranked shortlist- Kalshi Best for sports prediction
- Polymarket Best for liquidity
- Robinhood Best for beginners
- DraftKings Predictions Best for DraftKings users
- FanDuel Predicts Best for live trading
- Fanatics Markets Best app experience
- Crypto.com (OG) Best crypto-native
- ProphetX New app · June 2026
- Underdog Predict Best for DFS fans
- theScore Bet Predict New · announced, not yet live
Ranked by market coverage, fees, ease of use and app quality. theScore Bet currently operates as a sportsbook; a prediction product has been signaled but isn’t live yet.
How prediction markets work
The 60-second versionPick a Yes or No contract
Every market is a binary question — “Will Team A win?” You buy Yes or No. You can’t hold both sides.
Price = implied odds
Contracts trade from $0.01 to $0.99. A Yes at $0.65 means the market prices a ~65% chance.
Settle at $1 or $0
Right prediction, each contract pays $1. Wrong, it’s worth $0. Your profit is $1 minus what you paid.
Exit before the finish
Unlike a sportsbook bet, you can sell your position mid-event at the current price to lock a profit or cut a loss.
How to start event trading in the U.S. (if you’re 18+)
Step by stepYou don’t need to be a Wall Street trader to use a prediction market. If you’re 18 or older and live in a state where it’s allowed, here’s exactly how to place your first trade — in plain English.
Check it’s allowed where you live
You must be 18+ with a U.S. address. As of June 2026, sports markets aren’t available in AZ, IL, MA, MD, MI, MT, NJ, NV or OH. The app tells you at sign-up.
Pick a platform & sign up
Choose one — Kalshi, Polymarket, Robinhood, DraftKings Predictions or FanDuel Predicts — and register with email, Google or Apple ID.
Verify who you are
Like opening a bank or brokerage account, you confirm your name, address and date of birth (sometimes the last digits of your SSN). The KYC check takes a couple of minutes.
Add money
Link a bank account (usually free) or a debit card (small fee). Some platforms let you start with as little as $1.
Find a market you understand
Browse by category — World Cup soccer, an NBA game, a Fed rate decision. Stick to events you actually follow at first.
Buy Yes or No
Decide which side you believe, check the price (it’s the implied chance), pick how many contracts, and confirm the order.
Hold or sell early
Wait for the event to settle, or sell your position before it ends to lock in a profit or cut a loss.
Cash out
Withdraw winnings to your bank from the Transfers screen. Bank transfers are free; debit is faster but may cost a little.
It’s a Saturday during the World Cup and you think Brazil will beat Scotland. You open the match market and see “Brazil to win” trading at 70¢. You buy 10 Yes contracts for $7.00 total. If Brazil wins, each contract pays $1 — you get $10 back, a $3 profit. Change your mind at halftime with the price up at 85¢? Sell your 10 contracts for $8.50 right then and keep $1.50, without waiting for the final whistle. Get it wrong and the contracts settle at $0 — so only stake what you’re comfortable losing.
One thing you can’t trade on any of these platforms is horse racing — no prediction market offers it. If that’s what you came for, skip the event contracts and check out the top horse racing betting sites on horse.bet instead.
Prediction market vs. sportsbook
Same game, different machinePrediction market (event contract)
- You trade against other users on an open exchange
- Federally regulated by the CFTC, not state gaming boards
- Often legal where sportsbooks aren’t (CA, TX, GA)
- Price set by the market; sell out any time before settlement
- No traditional “promo code” — referral & trading incentives instead
- No horse racing / Kentucky Derby contracts
Sportsbook (e.g. FanDuel, DraftKings)
- You bet against the house at fixed odds with a built-in margin
- Licensed state by state by gaming regulators
- Only legal in states that have authorized online betting
- Odds locked at bet placement; cash-out where offered
- Welcome bonuses, odds boosts, parlay promos
- Racing handled by ADW racebooks (TwinSpires, AmWager…)
The platforms at a glance
Tap through for full reviewsKalshi
~72% of volumeThe category leader and a standalone CFTC exchange. Widest sports menu, custom combos, in-play, and an exit mechanic that works like a stock trade.
- 17 sports incl. NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, UFC, soccer
- Official: referral rewards + 3.75% APY on $250+
- 49 states (not NV); sports contested in several
Polymarket
Highest global volumeNow CFTC-regulated in the US and funded in USDC. Deep World Cup and soccer markets, clean mobile-first design, and no trading fees in 2026.
- Sports, politics, economics, culture
- Official: zero trading fees; USDC wallet
- Crypto funding may not suit every bettor
Robinhood
Easiest on-rampEvent contracts live inside the Robinhood app via its Prediction Markets Hub. Zero extra download for 25M+ existing users; building its own exchange in 2026.
- Contracts via Kalshi / ForecastEX / Rothera
- Cost: ~10% fee, 5% with Gold
- Paused new sports contracts in Nevada
DraftKings Predictions
In the DK appLaunched Dec 2025 in 38 states including California, Texas and Georgia. Powered by CME Group with added Crypto.com sports markets and combo contracts.
- NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL + soccer/MMA/golf/tennis
- Not offered where the DK sportsbook is already live
- Familiar for existing DraftKings users
FanDuel Predicts
Standalone appFanDuel’s event-contract app (Dec 2025), CME Group + Crypto.com OG markets. Live trading and early cash-out in a UX familiar to FanDuel users.
- Football, basketball, hockey, baseball + econ markets
- Phased national rollout from launch states
- “One App” routing to sportsbook where legal
Fanatics Markets
★ 4.6 iOSSports-first, powered by Crypto.com/CDNA, with a shared wallet between Fanatics Sportsbook and Markets and one of the most polished apps in the space.
- In-game trading across live events
- Seamless for existing Fanatics customers
- Availability varies by state
Are prediction markets legal in your state?
Sports event contracts are regulated federally by the CFTC, so platforms argue they’re legal nationwide. In June 2026 the CFTC proposed a rule that would keep most sports markets but let regulators bar manipulation-prone ones (player injuries, officiating, single plays) — and it kept the minimum age at 18, not 21. State regulators and tribes still disagree, the picture changes monthly, and a federal-vs-state fight is headed toward the Supreme Court. Treat any “legal in all 50 states” claim with caution and check the dated status box in each review.
Prediction market FAQs
10 answered in full belowCan I bet the Kentucky Derby on Kalshi or Polymarket?
No. No prediction market offers Derby or horse racing contracts — the Interstate Horseracing Act and Churchill Downs’ refusal to consent keep racing off these platforms. Use a licensed ADW racebook to bet the races.
Are prediction markets the same as sports betting?
Functionally similar, legally different. You trade Yes/No contracts against other users on a CFTC-regulated exchange rather than betting against a sportsbook’s odds.
What does a real Kalshi / Polymarket bonus look like?
Officially, referral rewards and trading incentives — not a fixed “promo code” deposit match. Most codes you’ll see advertised are media-affiliate referral links.
Which prediction markets work in California, Texas and Georgia?
Several operate in states without legal sportsbooks — though availability is contested and shifts. We verify and date each platform’s state status in its review.
(+ 6 more user-intent FAQs added at build — see content doc)
Full 10-question set drafted from search-intent and “People Also Ask” data in the research document.
Here for the horses? Skip the prediction markets.
Since no event-contract platform can offer racing, the only way to bet the Derby, the Breeders’ Cup or any track is a licensed advance-deposit racebook. Compare the welcome offers and coverage on the apps that actually take racing bets.