The independent guide to event-contract trading
Prediction markets,
decoded.
Kalshi, Polymarket, FanDuel Predicts and a dozen more let you trade real money on real-world events. We explain how they work, which to use, and how to trade them well.
Will the Fed cut interest rates at its next meeting?
A contract settles at $1 if it happens, $0 if it doesn’t. Price moves with the odds.
Start from zero
What event contracts are, why prices equal probabilities, and how markets differ from a sportsbook or the stock market.
Pick a platform
Side-by-side reviews of Kalshi, Polymarket, FanDuel Predicts and more — fees, funding, markets, and where each is available.
Trade with an edge
Bankroll rules, finding mispriced markets, cross-platform arbitrage, and the mistakes that quietly drain accounts.
The field, July 2026
The major platforms at a glance
More than a dozen federally regulated exchanges now serve US traders. Here are the ones most people actually use.
| Platform | Best for | Funding | Markets | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalshi Editor's pick | Beginners & macro markets | Bank, debit & Apple/Google Pay (USD) | Economics, politics, sports, weather | Review | |
| Polymarket Crypto | Liquidity & global events | USDC stablecoin (crypto) | Politics, world events, crypto | Review | |
| FanDuel Predicts | Sports bettors crossing over | Bank & debit (USD) | Sports outcomes & props | Review | |
| Robinhood Low fees | Existing Robinhood users | Bank, debit & credit (USD) | Elections, sports, economic data | Review | |
| DraftKings Predictions Sports | Sports props & futures | Bank & debit (USD) | Sports outcomes, props & futures | Review | |
| Coinbase Crypto | Crypto-native retail | Bank, card & crypto (USD) | Elections, sports, economy | Review | |
| OG Sports | Sportsbook-style on-ramp | Bank & debit (USD) | Sports outcomes & events | Review | |
| Crypto.com Crypto | Existing Crypto.com users | Crypto & USD (Crypto.com account) | Sports & events | Review |
Ratings reflect our editorial assessment of usability, liquidity, fees, market range and trust. Availability varies by US state. Some links are affiliate links.
What a market looks like
One question, two sides, a live price
Every market is a question that will resolve Yes or No. The price of a Yes share — between 1¢ and 99¢ — is the crowd’s probability that it happens. These are illustrative examples, not live quotes.
Will turnout exceed the last midterm cycle?
Will the home side win on Saturday?
Will Bitcoin close the month above its open?
Trade what you follow
Markets across every category
The same platforms that price elections also price the Super Bowl, the next jobs report, an Oscar winner, and tomorrow’s high temperature.
Start here
Featured guides
Plain-English walkthroughs, from opening your first account to reading an order book.
Place your first trade
A five-step path from picking a platform to settling a position.
How markets work
Order books, prices as probabilities, and how a contract settles.
Kalshi vs Polymarket
The two giants compared on fees, funding, markets and access.
Glossary of terms
Spread, slippage, resolution, maker rebate — defined simply.
Free tools
Run the numbers before you trade
Quick calculators that turn a contract price into the figures that actually matter.
Profit & payout
Enter a price and a stake to see shares, payout, profit and ROI — for either side.
Odds & probability
Convert between contract cents, implied %, decimal, fractional and American odds.
Bankroll & sizing
How much to risk per market, and why position size beats picking winners.
Independent
No platform pays for placement
Rankings reflect our own testing and research. Affiliate links help fund the site but never change the order.
Current
Tracked, not frozen in time
Prediction-market law is moving fast. We date every page and revisit platform availability as rules change.
Responsible
Trading involves real risk
Contracts can settle worthless. We cover bankroll discipline first and link to support throughout.
Ready to make your first informed trade?
Compare the top regulated platforms side by side, or start with the fundamentals. Independent reviews, no paid placement, updated for 2026.
Independent · No platform pays for placement · 18+ only