3 quick facts about sports prediction markets
- Prediction markets let you trade sports event contracts.
- Contracts cost $0.01 to $0.99, and the price is market-driven.
- The payout is $1 per event contract for correct predictions and $0 if otherwise.
Sports prediction markets – What you need to know
At online betting sites, you stake on odds set by the sportsbooks. However, that’s not the case with
prediction markets, which is why you can’t refer to them as betting platforms. So,
what are prediction markets? Let’s explain.
Prediction markets are financial derivatives you can trade (buy or sell). They represent various potential results, and you pick Yes or No depending on your prediction. Consider this NBA game between Baltimore and Cincinnati:
- Baltimore: Yes, at $0.58
- Cincinnati: Yes, at $0.43
If your prediction is for Baltimore to win, you buy the Yes event contract for $0.58 each. Otherwise, you buy the No contract, which is still the same as picking Yes for Cincinnati. The market is peer-to-peer (P2P), so as you place a buy order, someone must be available to sell.
Due to the P2P system, the event contract price depends on demand and supply. The cost of a specific contract will increase if more traders buy, and vice versa. As such, the trading platform doesn’t set the price, which is another reason you can’t refer to it as a betting site.
How do payouts work on a prediction markets?
This question is one of the most common we saw during our research. As already clarified, prediction market platforms are not betting sites. That said, payouts still depend on making correct predictions for the featured sports events.
If you get the prediction correct, the payout is $1 per contract. For instance, let’s suppose you purchase 100 contracts for Baltimore to win at $0.58 each. Your total trade would be $58, and winning will get you $100, meaning a $42 profit.
On the flip side, incorrect predictions return $0 per contract. When you buy, you don’t always have to wait until the market resolves to know your payout. You can decide to sell before then for early profits or to minimize potential loss.
Play now
18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading involves high risk and may result in loss of your entire investment. See polymarket.us/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated derivatives exchange and clearing organization.
The best sports prediction markets in July2026
Now, it’s time to uncover the very best sites for trading event contracts in the United States. Check out our top recommendations below to know why we rate them highly:
| Prediction market | Welcome bonus | App availability |
| Kalshi | $10 with promo code | Android and iOS |
| Polymarket | Deposit $20 get $50 | Android and iOS |
| Crypto.com | 100% up to $250 | Android and iOS |
| Robinhood | Up to $200 in stocks | Android and iOS |
| OG.com | Up to $100 | Android and iOS |
| FanDuel Predicts | $25 with first trade | Android and iOS |
| Underdog Predict | 200% up to $100 | Android and iOS |
| PrizePicks Predict | N/A | Android and iOS |
| Fanatics Markets | First trade match up to $25 | Android and iOS |
| Coinbase | N/A | Android and iOS |
| DraftKings Predict | Trade $5 for up to $200 in Prediction Dollars | Android and iOS |
| Sleeper Markets | N/A | Android and iOS |
| MooMoo | 8.1% APY plus up to $1000 in NVDA stock | Android and iOS |
| ROLR | $25 million in prizes | Website only |
| Gemini | N/A | Android and iOS |
| WeBull | N/A | Android and iOS |
| Interactive Brokers | $10 bonus to trade or withdraw | Android and iOS |
| Novig | Spend $5, get $50 | Android and iOS |
| ProphetX | Trade $10, get $20 | Android and iOS |
| Truth Predict | N/A | Android and iOS |
Kalshi — Best for usability
Kalshi: Pros and Cons
- Find markets via search facility
- Extensive range of prediction markets
- Clear fees system
- Large help center
- Limited promos for existing customers
On Kalshi, we counted over 10 sports, which is decent for any prediction market brand. The featured categories include football, basketball, hockey, baseball, and MMA, among others. Therefore, you can make predictions on the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and UFC if you join the site.
We have high ratings for Kalshi in terms of usability due to the platform’s friendly interface. You can clearly differentiate between Yes or No contracts thanks to the blue and purple colors. Meanwhile, the top tab allows fast sorting of market options like game winner, futures, awards, and totals.
You won’t see any sports betting odds, as the platform isn’t a sportsbook. The contract cost depends on the market, and Kalshi makes things smooth by displaying liquidity at the bottom left of each event. That way, you can know which markets are more stable for trading,
making Kalshi one of the best sports events trading platforms.
| Feature |
Details |
| 💰 Welcome Bonus |
$10 bonus |
| 📱 App Availability |
iOS & Android |
| ⚡ Payout Speed |
3 – 4 business days |
| 🏆 Sports Coverage |
10+ sports including NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, UFC, MMA, and more |
| 🎮 Sports Markets |
Game winner, Futures, Awards, Totals, Spreads |
| 🚫 Restricted States |
AR, AZ, CT, IL, LA, MA, MD, MI, MT, NJ, NV, OH |
| ⭐ Key Features |
• User-friendly interface with blue/purple color coding for Yes/No contracts
• Clear liquidity display for each market
• Fast market sorting options
• Predictive Insights feature with forecasted price history |
Polymarket — Top pick for sports coverage
Polymarket: Pros and Cons
- Plenty of prediction market topics
- Trending and breaking areas of interest
- Lots of predictions in all major subject areas
- User-friendly site design
Based on our tests, Polymarket qualifies as the best sports prediction market for coverage. How so? Well, the platform lists 13+ sports, including popular ones like football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. Additionally, you’ll spot event contracts for esports, tennis, golf, chess, Formula 1, and more.
What makes Polymarket unique is the price format settings. We were able to switch from the regular view to American or Decimal price format, like +150 and 2.5, respectively. Percentage view is also supported. Note that this doesn’t make Polymarket a sportsbook, as you only get the feature for convenience.
In other words, taking Polymarket to be one of the best prediction market apps isn’t accurate. We saw markets like Moneyline, spreads, totals, and halves/quarters for various sports. However, none of these options have fixed odds, and their prices are based on market conditions.
| Feature |
Details |
| 💰 Welcome Bonus |
Coming soon |
| 📱 App Availability |
iOS & Android |
| ⚡ Payout Speed |
Within 24 hours |
| 🏆 Sports Coverage |
13+ sports including Football, Basketball, Baseball, Hockey, Esports, Tennis, Golf, Chess, Formula 1, and more |
| 🎮 Sports Markets |
Moneyline, Spreads, Totals, Halves/Quarters, and more |
| 🚫 Restricted States |
Currently in Beta – limited U.S. access |
| ⭐ Key Features |
• World’s largest prediction market
• Best sports coverage with 13+ sports categories
• No trading fees
• All transactions via USDC |
Crypto.com: Pros and Cons
- Sports, elections, culture, and economics markets
- Low commission for trading
- Supports USD and cryptocurrency payments
- No crypto prediction markets
You can’t leave out Crypto.com when mentioning popular prediction markets in the US. Besides fame, the platform gets a spot among the best, especially if you prefer crypto. We were able to deposit and withdraw using 400+ digital currencies on the site.
Notably, you only trade sports event contracts with USD on Crypto.com. Therefore, the site will convert your crypto into USD after depositing. Likewise, when you want to withdraw, you can swap your USD profits into digital coins and tokens. The best part is that crypto payouts take only a few hours, compared to days with fiat.
On the sports side, Crypto.com has football, basketball, and hockey, among others. We came across prediction options for the game winner, spread, totals, and futures. Of course, these are only event contracts and not sports betting markets.
| Feature |
Details |
| 💰 Welcome Bonus |
$50 bonus |
| 📱 App Availability |
iOS & Android |
| ⚡ Payout Speed |
Within one hour (especially for crypto withdrawals) |
| 🏆 Sports Coverage |
Football, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, Hockey (5 major sports) |
| 🎮 Sports Markets |
Game winner, Spread, Totals, Futures; Live trading available |
| 🚫 Restricted States |
AR, AZ, CT, IL, LA, MA, MD, MI, NV, NY, OH |
| ⭐ Key Features |
• Supports 400+ cryptocurrencies for deposits/withdrawals (Bitcoin, DogeCoin, Ethereum, etc.)
• Sports contracts traded in USD with instant crypto conversion
• Fast crypto payouts
• Partnership with Underdog and Fanatics |
Sponsored by Crypto.com – Not investment advice. Trading prediction markets and crypto involves risk, including potential loss of your stake. Consider your risk tolerance before participating. Crypto.com connects U.S. users to CDNA (regulated by CFTC) for derivatives trading. CDNA membership required. Trading may not be suitable for all—you could lose your entire investment plus fees. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results. This is not a solicitation or recommendation to trade.
Robinhood — Best for combo predictions
Robinhood: Pros and Cons
- Apps for Android and iOS
- $0.01 commission per trade
- 24/7 live chat support
- Limited bonuses for prediction markets
Robinhood doesn’t have only single prediction markets for sports. Instead, the platform lets you trade combos that combine multiple outcomes into one. You can think of them as parlays or accumulators on regular sportsbooks, but in this case, it’s just trading.
While reviewing Robinhood, we saw both single-game and multiple-game combos. The first lets you speculate on different outcomes in the same sports event. Meanwhile, the second mixes outcomes across various games, but usually in the same league or niche.
We also rank Robinhood among the top sports prediction markets for its coverage. Games from the NFL, NCAA, NBA, NHL, and more are all available on the platform. From our observations, the combos are mostly available for pro football and basketball events.
| Feature |
Details |
| 💰 Welcome Bonus |
Up to $200 in reward stock |
| 📱 App Availability |
iOS & Android |
| ⚡ Payout Speed |
Within 24 hours |
| 🏆 Sports Coverage |
NFL, NCAA, NBA, NHL, and more major leagues |
| 🎮 Sports Markets |
Single-game contracts, Combo predictions (parlay-style), Multiple-game combos across leagues |
| 🚫 Restricted States |
AR, AZ, IL, LA, MA, MD, MI, NV, OH |
| ⭐ Key Features |
• Only $0.01 fee per trade
• Unique combo predictions that combine multiple outcomes (similar to parlays)
• Single-game and multiple-game combo options
• Strong focus on pro football and basketball combos |
How we choose the best sports predictions markets
During our reviews, these are the factors we considered when choosing the top prediction markets:
| Factor |
Description |
| Sports coverage |
We look for platforms that cover the most popular leagues, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, and others. A wider selection means you can find events on your favorite games to trade. |
| Prediction options |
The top sites we list offer multiple ways to trade, such as game winner, spread, totals, and futures for long-term outcomes. |
| Market liquidity |
We prioritize sites with good liquidity for popular events. It ensures predictions are more reliable and that you can buy and sell contracts quickly without large price changes. |
| Mobile performance |
Since many traders use mobile devices, we recommend apps that are fast, easy to browse, and offer real-time updates. |
| Commissions |
Only platforms with minimal commissions, typically $0.01 to $0.02 per contract, make our list. It’s essential so costs don’t eat into your potential returns. |
| Customer support |
We test for 24/7 customer support, especially through live chat. Email, phone, and ticketing systems also add to our ratings. |
| Other prediction markets |
Sites offering additional markets like politics, culture, and economics are the best for us. They give you more trading opportunities besides sports. |
If you’re after the best prediction markets for sports, remember that things work that way. The prediction market platforms only support trading game outcomes and not classical betting.
Legality of sports prediction markets — Are they permitted in the US?
To give a simple answer, sports prediction markets are legal, and they’re not betting platforms. Traditional sportsbooks require licenses in specific states to offer their betting odds. In contrast, prediction markets are online trading hubs regulated by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Rest assured that all platforms on our top list offer sports prediction markets under CFTC oversight. Therefore, they’re safe and permitted across the US. Still, checking your local laws is essential.
In our reviews, we saw that traders in Maryland can’t access Robinhood’s prediction markets. Meanwhile, Nevada residents can trade events in any category except sports. Things can change with time, and even on other platforms, so review your state’s regulations before registering.
Sports Prediction Markets Vs Sportsbooks
Prediction markets are not sportsbooks because you will never wager on any sporting outcomes. Instead, you place trades on event contracts that are influenced by peer supply and demand. At a sportsbook, the house sets the odds and you bet against it. On a prediction market site, you are trading contracts with other users, not what a bookmaker decides. These trades shift prices depending on what is happening in the current market.
Sportsbooks also require a gambling license provided by the state they are operating in to be legal. Prediction markets work a little differently as they are regulated by the CFTC as a Designated Contract Market, which means they can operate across most of the US without the same licensing restrictions that apply to sports betting.
Another crucial difference is how you exit a position. With a sportsbook bet, your wager is locked in once it has been placed and you need to wait until the match is finished. On a prediction market, you can sell your contract before the outcome is decided, either to lock in a profit or cut a loss if the market moves against you. The other option is that you can just wait until the contract event is complete and have it added automatically to your balance.
What Sports Are Available at Prediction Market Sites
Most prediction market platforms cover the major US leagues. You will find markets on the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL at the majority of the prediction sites, and many also include college football and basketball. Beyond the main four, coverage varies by platform. Some of the larger platforms, like Kalshi and Polymarket, offer wider coverage of available contract markets, adding niche categories like tennis, golf, esports, chess, and Formula 1 to the standard lineup.
These markets shift based on seasonal events like the Super Bowl, March Madness, or the World Series, even if they do not carry that sport year-round. Predictions can be made on event contracts, like “who will be the next coach” or “who will be a team’s first draft pick”, before a new season starts are popular trades. Prediction market sites tend to focus on what sport is popular and follow the market activity.
Examples of Popular Sports Prediction Markets
Sports event contracts are some of the most popular options on prediction markets. With a massive selection of available markets to choose from, you can trade on most outcomes, though every site handles them differently. Most platforms favor “Yes” or “No” contracts rather than traditional odds.
Here are some examples of popular sports prediction markets:
| Market Type | How It Works |
| 🏆 Game Winner
| You trade on which team wins the game outright. Contracts for the favorite cost more, reflecting the market’s confidence in that outcome. |
| 📈 Spread | You trade on whether a team will win by more than a set margin. The contract price reflects how likely traders think that is. |
| 🔢 Totals (Higher/Lower) | You trade on whether the combined score lands over or under a set number. Prices shift fast around injury news or lineup changes. |
| 📅 Futures | Long-term contracts on outcomes like division winners or title winners. Prices change more rapidly and tends to be thinner than single-game markets. |
How Probabilities Work on Sports Prediction Markets
On a prediction market, the contract price is the probability. A contract priced at $0.60 means the market collectively rates that outcome at a 60% chance of happening. Prices for opposing outcomes in a two-way market will always add up close to $1.00. This is different from how sportsbooks use odds, which have a house edge in their favor. A team with -150 odds at a sportsbook has a probability of around 60%, but the actual outcome is designed to give the house an edge over time.
Prediction market prices don’t have that built-in margin. The price is determined by traders buying and selling contracts, so it moves based on real demand. If a lot of people believe that a Team will win, the Yes contract for that Team gets more expensive. That also means prediction market prices can be a useful indicator of what team is a favorite. Because traders dont have skin in the game and can sell out at any point, the prices tend to shift quickly.
Expert tips when trading in a prediction market for sports
As a sports event trader, you’ll have better results if you approach markets with a strategy. Indeed, the platforms are not betting sites, but you still need correct outcomes to get a payout. To achieve that, you can count on our expert tips below:
Only submit trades for event outcomes you’ve properly researched. If you’re going for the game winner, for instance, study the teams’ statistics, recent results, player form, and head-to-head comparisons. With this knowledge, you can make better trading decisions.
All trades in sports prediction markets are P2P, so you can’t ignore liquidity. High liquidity means your trades will execute without major price swings. Meanwhile, low-liquidity markets are more volatile, so buying or selling contracts at favorable prices can be difficult.
Don’t limit yourself to just trading game winner event contracts. Instead, check spreads, totals, and futures for options that may be much easier to predict. The best analysis sites can assist with insights for this strategy, even though prediction markets don’t involve betting.
⚠️ Be Cautious with Live Trading
In our experience, liquidity often gets low while the sports games are ongoing. Therefore, if you want to trade live sports event contracts, monitor the market closely and react quickly.
Upsides and downsides of sports prediction markets
Trading on a prediction market has real advantages, but it’s not without downsides. From market coverage to low fees and legal status, prediction sites are getting more popular with users who want to make predictions on sports outcomes. Below, we’ve rounded up the general pros and cons of the best sports prediction markets we reviewed:
Pros and Cons
- Prediction markets cover all the major US sports leagues, including NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL
- They operate under CFTC regulation, which means you’re using a legal prediction market site
- Most of the top prediction platforms have minimal commissions and fees on sports event contracts
- Some markets have low liquidity based on the market activity
Conclusion — Trade sports event contracts on a quality prediction market
Looking for sports prediction markets won’t yield any results since they don’t exist. What’s legally available in the US are prediction market platforms, which only support trading event contracts. The markets operate with prices based on supply and demand, and the platforms don’t influence the rates.
Right now, the best sports prediction markets are Kalshi, Polymarket, Crypto.com, and Robinhood. If you read our reviews on this page, you’ll discover where each one stands out. Consider the insights and pick a platform that works best for you.
Once you make your choice, you can tap the banners on this page to visit your preferred prediction market platform. Then, install the app or sign up directly on the website. If your registration is successful, you can deposit and start trading various sports events.
Check out our favorite sports prediction markets!
1.
Play now
18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading involves high risk and may result in loss of your entire investment. See polymarket.us/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated derivatives exchange and clearing organization.
2.
3.
4.
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Underdog Predict is a registered FCM offering event contracts. Trades may be placed on CDNA, a registered DCM, powered by UDM Services, LLC. Trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for all. Must be a U.S. resident. Terms apply: underdogpredict.com. Content is promotional and is not a recommendation to trade.
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18+ If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER Prediction is an event contract that is a derivatives product offered by Crypto.com: Buy, Sell & Trade Crypto with a Trusted App | Derivatives North America (CDNA), a CFTC-regulated exchange through OG technology. Trading on CDNA involves risk and may not be appropriate for all. By trading you risk losing your cost to enter any transaction, including fees. You should carefully consider whether trading on CDNA is appropriate for you in light of your investment experience and financial resources. Any trading decisions you make are solely your responsibility and at your own risk. Terms apply. Trading involves risk of loss. Bonus credits cannot be withdrawn immediately.
Sports prediction markets FAQs
🏅 What are sports prediction markets?
Sports prediction markets are financial derivatives where you speculate on outcomes of real-world sports events. You trade Yes/No event contracts depending on your prediction, and the markets follow a peer-to-peer model.
💻 What is the best sports prediction markets?
Sports betting platforms and prediction market sites are not the same. The latter don’t feature fixed odds, so they don’t support traditional betting. If you want the best sports prediction sites, our top four are Kalshi, Polymarket, Crypto.com, and Robinhood.
📊 How can I read sports prediction markets?
You can read sports prediction markets by looking at the event contract price. Each rate represents the market perception of the outcome’s probability. For instance, a $0.50 contract price means 50% of traders believe the event will happen.
🔍 What is the best prediction trades?
You trade event contracts as opposed to placing bets on prediction market sites. Some ideal predictions supported include game winner, spreads, totals, and futures. You can still use analysis sites to research the teams involved but you are not placing bets on prediction markets.
🏈 How do sports prediction markets differ from sportsbooks?
Instead of wagering on sporting outcomes, users trade event contracts, making predictions on outcomes that are influenced by other peers. Prediction markets do not hold a state gambling license. Instead, they are regulated by the CFTC as a Designated Contract Market, allowing them to operate across more US states.
⚖️ Are prediction markets legal in the U.S.?
Yes, prediction markets are currently legal and regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as Designated Contract Markets. They are able to operate across much of the US, but this may change in the future as new regulations come in.
💰 Do prediction markets have fees?
Yes, platforms primarily generate revenue through trading fees, though the structure varies significantly depending on the site’s regulatory status and target audience.
