DraftKings Predictions review: how it works, where it is available and how it compares to Kalshi
DraftKings Predictions is the sportsbook giant’s CFTC-regulated prediction market, now running on its own exchange. How it works, which states get sports contracts, age rules, and how it stacks up against Kalshi.
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DraftKings Predictions is DraftKings' prediction market: instead of betting against a sportsbook, you buy and sell event contracts that pay $1 if an outcome happens. It is regulated by the CFTC, not by state gaming commissions, which is why it is available in states where DraftKings cannot run a sportsbook, including big ones such as California and Texas.
Availability and features as of October 2026. Sports contracts in particular vary by state; check the app before you sign up.
DraftKings Predictions at a glance
| What it is | A prediction market app from DraftKings, regulated by the CFTC |
| Launched | December 2025 |
| Exchange | A partner exchange (Crypto.com) at launch; since June 2026 DraftKings' own exchange, DKeX, built on the Railbird licence it bought in 2025 |
| Where | Most states for financial markets; sports contracts mainly in states without a DraftKings sportsbook |
| Markets | Sports, stock indexes, commodities, crypto, politics, business and economics |
| Minimum age | 18 in most states, higher in a few |
| App | Inside the main DraftKings app since mid-2026, plus web |
How DraftKings Predictions works
Every market is a yes-or-no question with a price between 1¢ and 99¢. If you think the Chiefs will win on Sunday and the "Yes" price is 62¢, you buy at 62¢; if they win you get $1 per contract. You can sell before the game ends at whatever the market pays at that moment.
The key difference from DraftKings Sportsbook is who is on the other side. At a sportsbook, DraftKings sets the odds and takes your bet. On a prediction market, you trade with other users and market makers at prices set by supply and demand, and the operator earns a fee. How exchanges make money: how does Kalshi make money.
Where is DraftKings Predictions available?
DraftKings launched Predictions in 38 states in December 2025, including California, Florida, Georgia and Texas, and has expanded since. The pattern is consistent:
- Financial and economic markets are available almost nationwide.
- Sports contracts are generally not offered in states where DraftKings runs a licensed sportsbook. There, DraftKings keeps sports betting on the sportsbook side.
- A small number of states get no markets at all.
Age requirement
DraftKings Predictions sets 18 as its minimum in most states. Third-party guides list 19 in Alabama and Nebraska and 21 in Massachusetts, Virginia and some Louisiana parishes. Compare with other apps in how old do you have to be to use Kalshi.
DraftKings Predictions vs Kalshi
| DraftKings Predictions | Kalshi | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange | DKeX (DraftKings' own) | Kalshi |
| Market menu | Focused on sports and major financial markets | Widest US menu: economics, weather, politics, culture, sports, combos |
| Liquidity | Growing | Deepest among US exchanges on most markets |
| Best for | Existing DraftKings customers, sports fans in non-sportsbook states | Traders who want the most markets and tightest prices |
The same game can trade at different prices on different exchanges. Kalshi and Polymarket prices are side by side on our live markets page.
Is DraftKings Predictions legal?
It operates under federal CFTC oversight, so it is legal at the federal level. Like Kalshi, its sports contracts are part of the legal fight between prediction markets and states that say they are unlicensed sports betting. The arguments on both sides: is Kalshi gambling? and is Kalshi legal in your state.
Pros and cons
Pros: a familiar brand and app, sports contracts in states without legal sportsbooks, federal regulation, the option to sell before the end of a game.
Cons: a narrower menu than Kalshi, thinner order books on smaller markets, and state-by-state limits on sports. Promotions such as bonus credits come with conditions; read them before depositing.
DraftKings Predictions: frequently asked questions
Is DraftKings Predictions the same as DraftKings Sportsbook?
No. The sportsbook takes bets at odds it sets. Predictions is an exchange where you trade contracts with other users.
Can I use DraftKings Predictions in California or Texas?
Yes, those were among the launch states, including sports contracts, because neither state has legal online sports betting. Check the app for current availability.
How old do you have to be to use DraftKings Predictions?
18 in most states, with higher minimums in a few.
Is DraftKings Predictions better than Kalshi?
For sports fans already using DraftKings it is convenient. Kalshi lists more markets and usually has deeper order books.
