
Political betting is possible at regular sportsbooks, but these platforms do not usually extensively cover political events. As an alternative, you can use prediction markets where you trade on political outcomes instead of standard betting.
Prediction markets take a more straightforward approach. They use a binary format in which you trade Yes-or-No contracts, making them excellent choices for both beginners and advanced users. Throughout this guide, we will explore what political predictions are like and also provide the top four brands where you can trade on the outcome of these events.


If you are new to trading political event contracts, it’s important to understand that prediction markets are very different from conventional sportsbooks. Even though they both involve forecasting the possible outcome of events, they use varying approaches and operate under separate laws.
Prediction markets are more like financial exchanges where you trade contracts based on the outcome of future political events. They use a binary approach that revolves around buying and selling Yes or No positions. Each of the positions will have a price attached, and that figure also shows the chances of the event happening.
On the other hand, sportsbooks use a fixed-odds model. Once you place your wager at specific odds, the bet is locked in until the event settles. Meanwhile, prediction markets allow you to exit a position even before the event resolves.
More prediction markets are diversifying their portfolio and including political event contracts. After extensively reviewing many of these brands, the following emerged as the top ones for political predictions: Kalshi, Crypto.com, Polymarket, and Robinhood (but there are many more incoming prediction market brands that we also feature in the table below).
| Name | Welcome Bonus | App Availability | Political Markets Offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalshi | $10 bonus | iOS & Android | Immigration, Trump Agenda, Culture War, Bills, Foreign Elections etc. |
| Polymarket | Coming soon | iOS & Android | Trump’s agenda, Global debates, Mayoral elections etc. |
| Crypto.com | $50 bonus | iOS & Android | Elections, Campaign outcomes, Passed bills, Public political affairs etc. |
| Robinhood | Up to $200 in reward stock | iOS & Android | Policy decisions, Appointments, Elections etc. |
| Underdog Predict | N/A | iOS & Android | N/A |
| PrizePicks | Play $5, Get $50 | iOS & Android | N/A |
| FanDuel Predicts | N/A | iOS & Android | Elections, Political outcomes, Cultural moments etc. |
| Fanatics Markets | N/A | iOS & Android | Mostly political events and election outcomes |
| Coinbase | N/A | iOS & Android | Elections and political events via Kalshi contracts |
| DraftKings Predict | N/A | iOS & Android | Mostly political events and election outcomes |
| Novig | ⏳ Awaiting CFTC Approval | iOS & Android | N/A |
| Railbird | N/A | Website only | N/A |
| PredictIt | N/A | Website only | US elections, Congressional outcomes, Political events etc. |
| Sporttrade | ⏳ Awaiting CFTC Approval | iOS & Android | N/A |
| ProphetX | ⏳ Awaiting CFTC Approval | Website only | N/A |
Kalshi scores highly when it comes to website design and app functionality. The platform organizes its event contracts into multiple categories and sub-categories. For instance, when you navigate to the politics lobby, you will find options like Immigration, Trump Agenda, Culture War, and Bills. It also covers foreign elections, though remember that this is not Kalshi election betting, just trading on political outcomes.
As a trading brand regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Kalshi abides by the highest regulatory standards. It uses high-end protocols and supports two-factor authentication, which you can activate from your settings. Another standout feature is the social element that allows you to follow and interact with other users.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| 💰 Welcome Bonus | $10 bonus |
| 📱 App Availability | iOS & Android |
| ⚡ Payout Speed | 3 – 4 business days |
| 🗳️ Political Markets | Immigration, Trump Agenda, Culture War, Bills, Foreign Elections, Policy decisions, Campaign outcomes |
| 🚫 Restricted States | AR, AZ, CT, IL, LA, MA, MD, MI, MT, NJ, NV, OH |
| ⭐ Key Features | • Well-organized categories and sub-categories (Immigration, Trump Agenda, Culture War, Bills) • Covers foreign elections in addition to US politics • Social features that allow following and interacting with other users |
Before Crypto.com launched a predictions hub, it was well-known as a trading platform that let you easily buy, swap, and sell various cryptocurrencies. The addition of a prediction market did not change that. As such, registering with Crypto.com also provides access to its broader ecosystem on both the website and the mobile app.
The prediction section of Crypto.com is equally impressive. You can trade event contracts on election and campaign outcomes, passed bills, and other public political affairs. It also occasionally offers limited-time promotions and hosts trading competitions. For security, it uses encryption protocols and supports two-factor authentication.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| 💰 Welcome Bonus | $50 bonus |
| 📱 App Availability | iOS & Android |
| ⚡ Payout Speed | Within one hour (especially for crypto withdrawals) |
| 🗳️ Political Markets | Elections, Campaign outcomes, Passed bills, Public political affairs |
| 🚫 Restricted States | AR, AZ, CT, IL, LA, MA, MD, MI, NV, NY, OH |
| ⭐ Key Features | • Seamless integration with overall crypto ecosystem • Access to broader crypto platform (buy, swap, sell cryptocurrencies) • Impressive prediction section for political events |
When it comes to coverage of political events, no platform does it better than Polymarket. It offers hundreds of event contracts for everything from Trump’s agenda to global political debates and mayoral elections in other countries. Keep in mind that there is nothing like classic election betting. Instead, you’re still using the approach of buying and selling Yes or No positions.
Polymarket gets a thumbs-up for live updates. The trading platform quickly updates its prices to reflect whatever is happening in the political world. Its cross-device compatibility is another perk, as it allows you to trade event contracts on both computers and mobile devices, which makes.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| 💰 Welcome Bonus | Coming soon |
| 📱 App Availability | iOS & Android |
| ⚡ Payout Speed | Within 24 hours |
| 🗳️ Political Markets | Hundreds of event contracts: Trump’s agenda, Global political debates, Mayoral elections worldwide, US elections, International politics |
| 🚫 Restricted States | Currently in Beta – limited U.S. access |
| ⭐ Key Features | • Wide coverage for US and international political happenings • Live updates that quickly reflect political world changes • Only 0.01% fee on taker orders |
Robinhood social is one of the features we enjoyed using on the platform. It lets you see trades unfold in real time. You can track when other traders enter and exit positions, which you can use to develop your own trading approach. The social feature also allows you to interact with other users, follow experienced traders, and stay in the loop about what’s happening in the market.
For political predictions, the trading platform offers 100+ daily event contracts on outcomes such as policy decisions, appointments, and elections. Like other prediction markets, it provides a live feed that lets you track how each event contract has performed over time.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| 💰 Welcome Bonus | Up to $200 in reward stock |
| 📱 App Availability | iOS & Android |
| ⚡ Payout Speed | Few minutes to 24 hours (depending on payment method) |
| 🗳️ Political Markets | Policy decisions, Appointments, Elections |
| 🚫 Restricted States | AR, AZ, IL, LA, MA, MD, MI, NV, OH |
| ⭐ Key Features | • Top-notch built-in social tools called Robinhood Social • Track when other traders enter and exit positions • $0.01 commission per trade |
We’ve provided a brief answer to the question: What are prediction markets? Now, let’s give you a breakdown of how to trade the event contracts of political outcomes.
For starters, you need an active account on your selected platform. You can tap their banners on this page to visit the site where you can register. From our experience, signing up is easy. Afterwards, you verify your identity and fund your account. Then, you navigate to the lobby and click on “Politics” or “Election.”
Once this section loads, you will see various event contracts. Let’s take this contract as an example: Who will Trump nominate as Fed Chair?
Under this, you will see various markets, including Kevin Hassett, Kevin Warsh, and Scott Bessent. As of the time of our review, Kevin Hassett had the highest chance of winning. The pricing for this market was as follows:
You can buy any of the positions. As time passes, the price will most likely change; you can choose to sell before the nomination happens. For example, you buy the Yes position at 78 cents and sell at 85 cents. However, if you hold on till after the event settles and Kevin Hassett is indeed nominated, you receive a $1 payout.
One of the exciting aspects of making political predictions is that you have a wide variety of events to trade. Many of such events fall into the following groups:
| Presidential elections | These markets usually open years in advance, offering the opportunity for long-term positioning after buying the event contract. |
| Primary elections and nominations | Such elections and nominations also generate high trading volume, with the prices shifting significantly as candidates drop out. |
| Policy decisions | Many platforms let you trade on whether specific bills will pass. |
| International politics events | Here, you will find event contracts on political happenings in other countries. It offers the opportunity for you to test your knowledge of politics on a broader scale. |
| Political milestones | For this, you focus on the “when” and not just the outcome itself. A good example is: When will Trump announce his new Chair of the Federal Reserve? |
| Government appointments | Event markets in this category cover Supreme Court justices, Cabinet positions, and federal agency leaders. |
Every political event has its unique dynamics. However, certain fundamental factors influence how elections, appointments, and political decisions unfold. Understanding such factors will enable you to determine the probability of an event occurring rather than relying solely on what the poll says. Here are the most common ones to note:
Economic conditions: This has a strong influence on politics. For instance, a booming economy often favors officeholders because voters associate a stable economy with effective governance. On the other hand, recessions and instability can shift voters’ sentiments, leading to a change in power.
Demography: This is especially important when your predictions centre on more nuanced events, such as party elections. Study the characteristics of the population, noting their age, ethnicity, religion, and dominating gender roles. These factors will affect how they cast their votes and which bills will be passed.
The media: For as long as we can remember, the media has greatly influenced perception. Each outlet frames political narratives and presents them to the people. News reaches an even broader audience now, thanks to social media channels and digital platforms. Depending on how outlets frame and present issues, they can sway public opinion in favor of one side over the other.
Political institutions: Electoral systems, judicial frameworks, and the constitution determine the distribution of power and party competition. It also affects election results, which can, in turn, impact the prices of political event markets.
External influence: We live in an interconnected world where international events and foreign relations can shape domestic politics. Factors such as global economic trends, trade agreements, and conflicts can shape the nation’s priorities and responses toward other countries.
We have seen even experienced traders make certain mistakes when predicting political outcomes. Below, we have highlighted three common ones and how to avoid them:
Predicting the outcomes of political events has its perks, but there are a few downsides to keep in mind. We’ve highlighted the pros and cons below:
Prediction markets have made it possible for you to trade Yes or No positions on various political events. You will find markets for both domestic and international elections, appointments, and policy decisions, among other happenings. Once you have a good knowledge of politics and combine it with research, you can make more predictions with a better chance of winning.
You also now understand how political predictions differ from political betting. Plus, we mentioned the top four prediction markets where you can register and start trading. You can check out our more comprehensive reviews for each brand to learn more about their offerings. After selecting the prediction market site or app that appeals to you, click on our on-page banner to visit the platform and create an account.
The chances of winning when making such predictions depend on the price at which you buy your position. For example, if the price of the Yes event contact is 78 cents, it means there’s a 78% chance the event will happen. However, this probability can change over time depending on factors that affect how the event unfolds.
You cannot bet on politics on prediction markets. These platforms only allow you to trade on the outcomes of political events. You still win if your prediction is accurate and lose if it is not.
Kalshi, Crypto.com, Polymarket, and Robinhood are the best sites for political predictions. Each of them extensively covers political events, offering you several contracts daily. They are also easy to use, support multiple payment methods, and provide solid customer service.
For every correct prediction, you get a $1 payout. Usually, each event contract is priced between $0.1 and $0.99. So, if your prediction is correct after the event settles, you will receive $1.
Yes, prediction platforms have mobile applications. You can download them directly from the brand’s official website or via your mobile app store.
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