Looking for a way to trade on real-world events in Pennsylvania? Prediction markets let you take a position on everything from the 2026 gubernatorial race to Federal Reserve decisions to Phillies games, with contracts resolving based on what actually happens.
Prediction markets are legal in Pennsylvania. Below we break down which apps are worth your time, how to trade on upcoming elections, and the latest developments as it relates to the Keystone State.
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What are prediction markets?
Prediction markets let you trade on the outcomes of events based on the implied probability of a certain set of circumstances playing out. That probability rests on public information about the situation and relevant historical data.
The event contracts are simple in form and function, graded based on a yes/no question of whether a situation will occur. For example, you might back a position of “yes” on whether Saquon Barkley will rush for at least 100 yards in a particular game.
Instead of wagering against the house, you “compete” with other traders. Prediction markets only facilitate the event contracts.
This format allows for greater flexibility in terms of cost and movement. Contract prices sit between 1¢ and 99¢, so they double as implied probabilities. If “yes” on Barkley rushing for 100 yards is trading at 60¢, the market is pricing his chances at 60%. Buy the contract for 60¢ and you collect $1 per contract if he hits the mark. You can also sell your position at any point before the game ends, so if Barkley breaks a long run early, you can lock in a profit without waiting for the final whistle.
Are prediction markets legal in Pennsylvania?
Prediction markets are regulated by the CFTC under the permission of the US Commodity Exchange Act. All of the exchanges mentioned in this guide have registered with the CFTC and are subject to its oversight.
Pennsylvania has mostly taken a laissez-faire approach to prediction markets so far, although that could change quickly. While no state agency has formally taken action against any exchanges, there have been significant rumblings of discontent with the status quo.
On October 3, 2025, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) Executive Director Kevin O’Toole sent a letter to members of Congress representing Pennsylvania regarding prediction markets operating in the state. In that correspondence, O’Toole called event contracts “a backdoor to legalized sports betting, operating parallel to, but outside of, the state-regulated system” and urged the delegation to pressure the CFTC on the issue. No specific operator was named in the letter.
On December 16, 2025, representatives of the PGCB and the Pennsylvania Council on Compulsive Gambling took part in an informational hearing before the Pennsylvania House Gaming Oversight Committee on prediction markets. During their testimony, they raised concerns about the gap between minimum ages for exchanges and sportsbooks plus pointed out that the commonwealth has existing language on the books to regulate and tax prediction markets should federal statutes allow. PGCB Chief Counsel Steven Cook testified that “every dollar wagered on a federally regulated event contract… yields zero tax revenue” to the commonwealth.
While the PGCB has been among the more vocal gaming regulatory bodies in the US on prediction markets, the action has amounted to public pressure rather than enforcement to this point. At the same time, there is action in federal courts that has implications for Pennsylvania prediction markets.
- A March 2025 ruling from a New Jersey district court threatened to prevent Kalshi from offering sports contracts in the state. Kalshi appealed, and on April 6, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit — whose jurisdiction includes Pennsylvania — ruled 2-1 in Kalshi’s favor, becoming the first federal appellate court to hold that the Commodity Exchange Act gives the CFTC exclusive jurisdiction over event contracts and preempts conflicting state gambling laws. Because PA sits in the Third Circuit, this precedent applies directly to any future PGCB enforcement action.
- An August 2025 hearing resulted in an unfavorable ruling in a Maryland district court. That decision is on appeal to the Fourth Circuit.
- In March 2026, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Kalshi’s request for a stay preventing Nevada from banning sports prediction contracts for people in the state.
Any of these cases could result in further appeals to the US Supreme Court. That becomes more likely if the Third Circuit’s Pennsylvania-reaching ruling for Kalshi conflicts with a coming Ninth Circuit ruling against Kalshi, creating a circuit split.
The CFTC has affirmly stated its belief in its exclusive regulatory rights over event contract platforms, including filing an amicus brief in the case before the Ninth Circuit to support Kalshi. However, either Congress, the courts, or a combination of the two will have the final say. For the latest developments, stay up to date with news from our team.
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Top prediction market apps in Pennsylvania
Below we cover every prediction market available in Pennsylvania. Not all of them offer the same markets, so we’ve ranked them based on market availability, liquidity, and ease of trading.
Kalshi: The best predictions app in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania availability: ✓ Yes, best option for all markets
Kalshi is regulated by the United States Commodity and Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which is the federal agency responsible for oversight of exchanges.
Kalshi gives you the widest menu of any prediction market in PA. You can trade the 2026 Pennsylvania gubernatorial race between Josh Shapiro and Stacy Garrity and all 17 US House contests. If you’re into sports, Kalshi allows sports contracts on every major PA team from the Eagles and Phillies to the Nittany Lions and Panthers. Economics, entertainment, and crypto markets round out the catalog.
Kalshi also pays you 3.25% interest on your cash balance and open contracts, which means your money earns yield whether you’re actively trading or holding a position.
New users get a $10 bonus after their first $10 in trades using DeFi Rate’s promo code DEFI.
Polymarket: Comparable to Kalshi, but slower US rollout
Pennsylvania availability: ✓ Yes, as good as Kalshi, but has a waitlist
Polymarket is going to be the one to watch for Pennsylvania election trading. The platform launched sports contracts first and expanded into politics and economics in April 2026, putting it in direct competition with Kalshi for PA midterm markets. The app is also second to Kalshi on sports markets.
Polymarket’s fee schedule is the lowest in the category. Fees cap at $1.25 per 100 contracts at the 50/50 price point and drop from there toward the extremes, with makers earning a 25% rebate on every trade. Polymarket does not require crypto to use in the US. You can fund your account with debit card, ACH, or wire transfer.
Two other benefits you won’t find on the list below: you can see live trades from other users as they happen, and you can suggest new markets for Polymarket to list.
Heads up: there’s a waitlist. Recent sign-ups have reported being over one million in line. You can skip the wait using DeFi Rate’s invite code RATE, which also unlocks a $20 welcome bonus on a $10 deposit.
OG Predicts
Pennsylvania availability: ✓ Yes, more options than DraftKings, but less than Kalshi
OG is worth considering if you’re coming from a sportsbook and want the most familiar interface in the prediction market space. Launched by Crypto.com in February 2026, OG displays markets using American odds (-139, +122), spread and totals lines, and even supports parlay builds across multiple games. If you’ve used DraftKings Sportsbook or FanDuel Sportsbook, OG is going to feel immediately recognizable.
Market coverage is broad and sports-heavy. OG lists pro basketball, baseball, football, hockey, tennis, golf, MMA, F1, and most major global soccer leagues (EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Champions League, World Cup). Non-sports categories include politics (2026 midterms, 2028 presidential), culture (Top Spotify Artist, Video Game of the Year), crypto, economics, financials, and climate.
New users can earn up to $100 in rewards during their first seven days on the platform, from signing up to placing the first trade. Every trade on OG routes through Crypto.com Derivatives North America (CDNA), a CFTC-regulated exchange.
DraftKings Predictions
Pennsylvania availability: ✓ Yes, financial markets only
DraftKings Predictions offers the largest welcome bonus of any prediction market: $75 in Predictions Dollars matched on your first trade, no promo code required.
In Pennsylvania, DraftKings Predictions is limited to financial markets. That covers stock indexes like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, commodities like oil and gold, currencies, and crypto prices. Sports, politics, and culture markets are not available in PA. If you’re looking for sports predictions, Kalshi and Polymarket are better options than DraftKings.
Fees are a flat $0.01 per contract. If you already use DraftKings Sportsbook, the interface and account flow will feel familiar. The two products don’t share a wallet, though.
FanDuel Predicts
Pennsylvania availability: ✓ Yes, financial markets only
You can also check out FanDuel Predicts on a dedicated app and website separate from FanDuel’s gambling products available in PA like FanDuel Sportsbook.
In Pennsylvania specifically, FanDuel Predicts does not offer sports contracts. Sports wagering runs exclusively through the licensed FanDuel Sportsbook under its state license. What you’ll find on FanDuel Predicts in the commonwealth is financial and economic markets including the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, crypto prices, oil and gas, gold, GDP, and CPI.
A 2% flat fee on potential payout is simpler to calculate than Kalshi’s variable formula, and new users get a $25 no-deposit welcome bonus with no promo code required.
Liquidity on many of these contracts can pale in comparison with what is trading on Polymarket.
Gemini Predictions
Pennsylvania availability: ✓ Yes, similar markets to Kalshi and Polymarket
Gemini Predictions is worth considering if you already have a Gemini exchange account. Event contracts live inside the same Gemini app you use for crypto trading, so funding is automatic from your existing balance and there’s no additional KYC.
Gemini is a new prediction site, launching December 2025. Fees run 5¢ per contract on taker orders and 1¢ on maker orders. The experience is closest to Polymarket, with Bitcoin price contracts using $4,000 brackets, a more granular way to express a crypto view than the single-threshold contracts you’ll find on Kalshi or Coinbase Predict.
The catch is liquidity and selection. The platform is still building out its market menu, so you won’t find the depth or breadth of PA-specific markets that Kalshi and Polymarket offer, and that shows up in wider buy/sell spreads.
Coinbase Predict and Robinhood
Pennsylvania availability: ✓ Yes, both route through Kalshi
Coinbase Predict and Robinhood offer event contracts inside the apps you already use for crypto or stock trading. Neither operates its own exchange. Instead, both route every trade into Kalshi’s order book as introducing brokers, so you’re getting the same markets you’d find on Kalshi with a different front-end.
If you already have a Coinbase or Robinhood account, this is the lowest-friction way to access prediction markets. There’s no new sign-up, no new KYC, and no moving money around. Coinbase lets you fund trades with USD or USDC from your existing balance. Robinhood drives a large share of Kalshi’s overall volume, a sign of how often its users are clicking through.
The trade-offs are the same on both platforms. Each adds its own broker fee on top of Kalshi’s, and you can’t earn the maker rebates Kalshi offers to users who place resting orders. You also won’t get Kalshi’s social features, such as trader leaderboards and the live activity feed.
Bottom line: if you already use Coinbase or Robinhood and want easy access to prediction markets, these are convenient options. If you’re going to trade regularly, a direct Kalshi account is cheaper and gives you more features.
How to start trading in Pennsylvania
Exploring offerings at Pennsylvania prediction markets is possible in four simple steps, all of which normally transpire quickly.
- Pick an app — Kalshi is a popular starting point if you’re new to prediction markets, thanks to its wide array of contracts and low costs. Another common option is Robinhood if you already use that platform for traditional stock trading.
- Verify your identity — All exchanges regulated by the CFTC conduct age and identity verification as part of the account registration process. Be prepared to provide identifying information like your date of birth, email address, legal name, mailing address, Social Security Number, and telephone number. Verification can happen in a few seconds, but in some cases it may take up to two days, and you may need to provide supporting documentation like government-issued identification.
- Fund your account — Choose a funding method based on how you weigh cost, security, and speed. ACH transfers are usually free but can take days to process. Debit cards are often the fastest but may include fees. Polymarket US accepts U.S. dollar deposits directly, though Polymarket Global (available outside the U.S.) runs on stablecoins.
- Start with what you know — When you’re getting comfortable with prediction markets, start with contracts on a topic you’re familiar with. For example, if you’re an avid Philadelphia 76ers fan, you might want to browse markets related to that team’s games. Positions are available for as little as a single cent, so there’s no need to bust the bank while you’re still getting accustomed to the format.
PA prediction market bonuses and promo codes
Looking at the table below, FanDuel Predicts has the best welcome bonus for new users: $25 no-deposit, no promo code, no strings. You sign up and the money is yours which is a great starting point to learn how to trade. OG has the worst, despite the flashy “up to $100” headline. The bonus only applies to trades on markets priced at $0.80 or below, which pushes you into riskier positions to claim it. Compared to sportsbook welcome offers, prediction markets tend to have smaller headline values but lack the expiration terms and playthrough requirements sportsbook deals include.
| Site | Welcome bonus | Promo code |
|---|---|---|
| Kalshi | $10 bonus after your first $10 in trades | DEFI |
| Polymarket | $20 bonus on a $10 deposit, plus waitlist skip | RATE |
| OG | Up to $100 in rewards during first 7 days | No code required |
| DraftKings Predictions | Up to $75 match on first trade in Predictions Dollars | No code required |
| FanDuel Predicts | $25 no-deposit welcome bonus | No code required |
| Coinbase Predict | No welcome bonus at this time | N/A |
| Gemini Predictions | No welcome bonus at this time | N/A |
| Robinhood | No welcome bonus at this time | N/A |
Note: OG’s “up to $100” bonus only applies to trades on markets priced at $0.80 or below, which excludes you from using it on the odds-on favorites most new users gravitate toward. Compared to Kalshi’s straight $10 cash credit after $10 in trades or FanDuel’s $25 no-deposit bonus, OG’s offer is the weakest for new users despite the bigger headline number because you have to take riskier positions to claim it.
Prediction markets vs. PA sports betting
Prediction markets are a different experience if you want to trade contracts related to events you follow. You can use them in addition to or instead of traditional online sportsbooks in Pennsylvania.
| Feature | PA Prediction Markets | PA Sports Betting |
|---|---|---|
| Who sets the odds | Users | Sportsbooks |
| Odds format | Percentage | American, decimal, fractional |
| Offers Elections | Yes (Kalshi, Polymarket, OG, Gemini) | No |
| Offers Sports | Yes (Kalshi, Polymarket, OG, Gemini) | Yes (11 PGCB-approved sportsbooks including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars) |
| Offers S&P | Yes (all PA apps) | No |
| Minimum age | 18 | 21 |
| Can exit position mid-event | Yes | Depends on the market |
| Prop market depth | Shallower | Deeper |
| Funding methods | Bank transfer, credit card, debit card | Varies based on sportsbook |
| Regulated by | CFTC | PGCB |
Pennsylvania’s gaming regulators have been active on the issue of prediction markets based on sporting events because PA has one of the highest tax rates for licensed sportsbooks’ revenue in the US at 36%. Because prediction markets operate outside of PA’s regulatory structure, they do not pay taxes on their revenue to PA, and therefore, the PGCB sees exchanges as taking tax revenue from the state.
At the same time, state officials have yet to take formal action to limit these markets. Barring action from the CFTC, the courts, or the US Congress to restrict this type of trading, the current situation will continue even if Pennsylvania officials would like to see it change.
What you can trade on PA prediction markets
Pennsylvania prediction markets offer contracts connected to a variety of developments and events. Many of them will be of special interest to you as a Pennsylvanian.
Crypto: Contracts cover cryptocurrency like Bitcoin and Ethereum hitting specific price targets by a specified date. You’ll find these contracts on Kalshi, Polymarket, OG, and Gemini Predictions. Gemini stands out in this category with a unique range of contracts using $4,000 price brackets on Bitcoin.
Economics: Markets in this category can contain Federal Reserve interest rate movements, changes in the Consumer Price Index, unemployment statistics, and reports on Gross Domestic Product (GDP). DraftKings Predictions and FanDuel Predicts both route PA users into this category, and Kalshi has deep liquidity on the same contracts.
Pop-Culture: Industry awards such as the Emmys, Grammys, and Oscars headline this segment. However, outcomes of reality television shows and how films perform at the box office add to the variety. Kalshi and Polymarket carry these contracts in PA. Note that these markets tend to resolve faster and carry less liquidity compared to other categories.
Elections: 2026 is an important general election year in Pennsylvania, with the November 3 race between incumbent Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro and Republican challenger Stacy Garrity headlining the ballot, along with all 17 US House contests. Because of Pennsylvania’s reputation as a swing state, liquidity on these markets tends to build on platforms like Kalshi, Polymarket US, OG, and Gemini Predictions.
Primaries: Pennsylvania’s closed primary takes place May 19, 2026. Shapiro and Garrity are running uncontested in their gubernatorial primaries, but six contested US House primary races are on the ballot, including the Summer Lee challenge in the 12th District and the crowded eight-Democrat race for Dwight Evans’ open 3rd District seat. Kalshi, Polymarket US, and OG all offer contracts on contested primary outcomes.
Sports: On Kalshi you can pick from a wealth of sports contracts connected to Pennsylvania teams. Whether you’re most interested in the 76ers, Eagles, Flyers, Nittany Lions, Panthers, Penguins, Phillies, Pirates, Steelers, or the Union, you’ll have a multitude of choices including in-game contracts. Polymarket US, OG, and Gemini Predictions also carry PA sports markets, with DraftKings Predictions and FanDuel Predicts routing sports wagering through their licensed Pennsylvania sportsbooks instead.
More state guides
| Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California |
| Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia |
| Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa |
| Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland |
| Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri |
| Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey |
| New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio |
| Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina |
| South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont |
| Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming |
Know before you trade
You have great control over your level of risk on prediction markets, but these contracts always carry a level of risk. For that reason, exchanges like DraftKings Predictions, FanDuel Predicts, and Kalshi offer customizable limits free of charge to people in PA.
Because prediction markets allow trading from age 18, responsible wagering has greater importance in this context. You can learn more through the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania and the National Council on Problem Gambling.