DraftKings Predictions vs Kalshi

DraftKings Predictions is DraftKings' event-contract app. It passes your orders to CFTC-regulated exchanges, including its affiliate DKeX. Kalshi is a CFTC-regulated exchange you join directly. The main split is geography: DraftKings offers sports contracts only in 17 states, all without a DraftKings sportsbook, while Kalshi's sports contracts are unavailable in Michigan, Nevada and Washington as of November 2, 2026, and contested in other states.

By the DFS Directory team. Checked Nov 2, 2026.

Which one fits you

DraftKings Predictions

Pick DraftKings Predictions if you already have a DraftKings account and live in one of its 17 sports states, such as California, Texas or Florida.
Pick DraftKings Predictions if you want pop culture, crypto and commodities markets in the same app.

Kalshi

Pick Kalshi if you live in a state with a DraftKings sportsbook, where DraftKings offers no sports contracts.
Pick Kalshi if fees matter: 100 contracts at 50 cents cost $1.75 for a Kalshi taker, against $2.00 to open on DraftKings' CDNA and DKeX markets.

How each is built

Kalshi is a CFTC designated contract market that you join directly. DraftKings Predictions (GUS III LLC) passes your orders to Wedbush Securities, a registered futures commission merchant, for trading on exchanges including Crypto.com's North American Derivatives Exchange and DKeX, a DraftKings affiliate. DraftKings' own documents differ on its role: its terms call it an FCM, while its App Store listing calls it a registered introducing broker.

Where sports contracts work

DraftKings offers sports contracts only where DraftKings Sportsbook isn't available. Its availability map, checked November 2, 2026, lists sports in 17 states, including Texas, California and Florida. Washington is one of 14 states with financial markets only, and Maine and New Hampshire get no markets. As of November 2, 2026, Kalshi's sports contracts are unavailable in Michigan, Nevada and Washington.

Fees

Kalshi's fee schedule (effective July 7, 2026) charges takers 0.07 × price × (1 − price) per contract, rounded up: $1.75 on 100 contracts at 50 cents and $0.63 at 10 or 90 cents. DraftKings charges a set fee per contract each time you open or close a position. On CDNA and DKeX markets that's $0.02 per contract from 30 to 94 cents, so 100 contracts at 50 cents cost $2.00 to open. Neither charges a fee at settlement.

Accounts and funding

DraftKings Predictions works with your existing DraftKings login. It requires you to be 18, or the age of majority where that's higher, with a valid SSN. Credit card and gift card deposits can't be used for trading, and the minimum withdrawal is $1. Kalshi requires you to be 18 and has a $10 minimum deposit, and it takes PayPal, Venmo, Cash App and crypto along with debit cards, bank transfer and wire.

Markets

Both list sports with in-game trading, player markets and combos. DraftKings adds pop culture, crypto and commodities markets. Kalshi also lists economic markets such as Fed rates, CPI and GDP, plus weather.

Side by side

DraftKings Predictions and Kalshi compared
	DraftKings Predictions	Kalshi
Contest types	Prediction market	Prediction market
States	—	48
Sports	NFL, CFB, NBA, CBB, MLB, NHL, WNBA	NFL, CFB, NBA, CBB, MLB, NHL, Golf, MMA, Soccer, Tennis
Minimum age	18+	18+
Min deposit	—	$10
Payouts	ACH / bank transfer, Debit card, Apple Pay, Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, Check	Debit card, ACH / bank transfer, PayPal, Venmo, Crypto
New-user offer	New customers who spend $5 get $200 in bonuses, paid over 21 days	—
Canada	No	No
Founded	2025	2018
Owner	GUS III LLC d/b/a DraftKings Predictions, a subsidiary of DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ: DKNG)	Kalshi Inc. (private; KalshiEX LLC is the CFTC-designated exchange, Kalshi Klear LLC the clearinghouse)
	Visit DraftKings Predictions(opens in a new tab)	Visit Kalshi(opens in a new tab)

The table is built from each listing's published details. See the DraftKings Predictions and Kalshi profiles for their sources and check dates.

Sources and corrections

Last checked Nov 2, 2026. We wrote this page from the sources below, and each listing links its own. If something about DraftKings Predictions or Kalshi has changed, let us know.