Washington Prediction Apps and Sites: Legal Trading in 2026

The same federal framework that regulates the Chicago Mercantile Exchange also licenses Kalshi, Polymarket, and a handful of other platforms to operate in Washington state. These aren’t sportsbooks. They’re designated contract markets where traders take positions on outcomes — Seahawks spreads, Senate race probabilities, Fed rate decisions, box office returns — the same way an investor buys and sells futures contracts.

Kalshi, Polymarket, FanDuel Predicts, and DraftKings Predictions are all open to Washington state residents right now — with sign-up bonuses still available on most. If you want the deepest markets on the Seahawks, Washington’s competitive 3rd Congressional District race, or the Mariners’ playoff odds, Kalshi is the place to start. FanDuel Predicts is the pick for sports-focused traders who want a familiar interface. This guide breaks down what each platform offers, how to claim your bonus, and what the AG’s lawsuit against Kalshi means for your account.

What are prediction markets?

Prediction markets are federally regulated exchanges where traders buy and sell contracts on the outcome of what’s happening in the real-world. Each contract asks a yes or no question — will this happen by a specific date? — and is priced between $0.01 and $0.99, with the price reflects the market’s collective probability of that particular event happening. A contract trading at $0.65 means the crowd gives it a 65% chance of happening. If it does, the contract pays $1. If it doesn’t, it settles at zero.

Though prediction markets have made mainstream news for the sports events, it goes well beyond this topic. Traders can take positions on Federal Reserve rate decisions, election outcomes, box office results, crypto price targets, and much more. A market could ask whether a Seahawks wide receiver will record at least five receptions in a particular game, or whether the Fed will cut rates at its next meeting — the mechanics are identical.

Positions can be opened for as little as a single cent. There is no house setting the odds — prices are determined entirely by traders on the open order book, and the exchanges have no interest in which way any market settles.

Top prediction market apps in Washington

If you’re in Washington state, you enjoy access to the most popular and reputable exchanges online. These options include markets with massive liquidity and strong brand recognition.

Kalshi: The number one legal app in Washington

Washington availability: ✓

Kalshi is a top choice for Washingtonians because of the extent of the liquidity on its markets and the variety of contracts available. Washington residents might have particular interests in markets related to Washington-specific political developments and contracts involving Washington athletes or sports teams.

Because of Kalshi’s market-leading position, it has been a target for many government agents and bodies interested in restricting its business. That means bettors in Washington should keep an eye on news updates concerning Kalshi.

Polymarket

Washington availability: ✓

Polymarket re-entered the US market in December 2025 after acquiring QCEX, a CFTC-registered exchange, for $112 million — ending a three-year absence that followed a 2022 enforcement action. The US app launched with sports markets, then expanded to politics and economics in April 2026.

Unlike the global platform, the US app accepts standard fiat deposits, including ACH. The fee structure is the lowest in the industry at 0.10% on taker orders.

FanDuel Predicts

Washington availability: ✓

FanDuel Predicts is a separate app from FanDuel Sportsbook — an important distinction for Washington, where the sportsbook operates only through tribal partnerships. The prediction markets app launched December 22, 2025, and is built in partnership with CME Group. FanDuel Predicts still runs on CME Group’s exchange. DraftKings Predictions used the same order book at launch but now runs its own exchange, DKeX, so the two are no longer functionally identical.

DraftKings Predictions

Washington availability: ✓

DraftKings Predictions launched December 19, 2025, originally routing through CME Group’s order book. In June 2026, DraftKings launched DKeX, its own CFTC-regulated exchange built on the Railbird Technologies acquisition, giving it independent pricing and market selection separate from FanDuel Predicts. For Washington sports fans already using the DraftKings daily fantasy app, prediction markets are a natural extension with ESPN and NBCUniversal media integrations built in.

Are prediction markets legal in Washington state?

Prediction markets currently operate in Washington under federal CFTC oversight, but that legal footing has taken a serious hit in state court. The Washington State Gambling Commission (WSGC) maintains these platforms aren’t authorized under state law, while operators argue federal regulation preempts that authority — a dispute that’s now moved past the preliminary stage for Kalshi specifically.

Update — August 13, 2026: A King County Superior Court judge issued a final order requiring Kalshi to stop offering sports, elections, politics, entertainment, culture, tech/science, and “mentions” contracts to Washington residents, after finding the company likely violated the state’s Gambling Act and Consumer Protection Act. Kalshi can still offer markets on commodities, climate, economics, and finance in the state, and users can close out existing positions in the now-restricted categories.

The order sets a hard compliance timeline: Kalshi must implement IP-address-based geofencing by August 19 and a more robust multi-source geofencing solution by September 2 — missing that deadline carries a $120,000-per-day penalty. Kalshi is also barred from advertising the restricted categories to Washington residents. The company has filed a motion asking the court to reconsider, arguing Washington is treating it differently than Crypto.com, which it says received more lenient treatment under the same law while its own appeal is pending. Similar cutoffs have landed in Michigan and Nevada around the same time.

Bottom line for Washington traders: as of September 2, expect Kalshi’s sports, elections, and several other market categories to become unavailable in the state unless the company’s appeal succeeds first. Commodities, climate, economics, and finance markets remain open. Other platforms named on this page are not directly affected by this specific ruling, though Washington’s broader legal posture toward prediction markets remains unsettled.

For the latest developments, stay up to date with news from our team.

Getting started: how to open an account from Washington

Washingtonians can try prediction markets for themselves in four simple steps. These CFTC-regulated exchanges have similar processes for account registration and funds addition.

1. Pick an app: Kalshi is a fantastic choice for people looking for the greatest variety of market and volume of liquidity. If you have a brokerage account with Robinhood, using that exchange is an easy transition as well.
2. Verify your identity: Before you can trade, you must substantiate your age and identity. This process involves providing the exchange with your date of birth, email address, legal name, mailing address, Social Security Number, and telephone number. While this is normally done in just a few minutes, it can take days to confirm your registration, especially if you need to provide supporting documentation like a government-issued identification document.
3. Fund your account: Common funding sources include ACH transfers, debit cards, and digital wallets. Each of these options has its advantages and disadvantages compared to the others in terms of prediction market usage. For example, ACH transfers carry lower costs than debit cards but debit card payments typically process faster. Note that Polymarket’s global platform requires USDC, but the US app accepts standard fiat deposits including ACH.
4. Start with what you know: Once you are registered and have deposited funds, browse for markets related to events that you are familiar with. As you are learning, you can trade conservatively as well, with contracts available for as little as a single cent.

Washington prediction market bonuses

DFS players in Washington may have experience with welcome offers on those platforms. Prediction market bonuses have some similarities with these promotions.

While prediction market bonuses tend to have smaller values compared to DFS introductory offers, prediction market bonuses also usually are not subject to as stringent expiration terms and playthrough requirements. You might also be able to get interest on your balance on an events contract exchange, something that DFS sites don’t offer.

How trading works on Washington prediction markets

Prediction markets cover diverse interests for bettors. Some of these contracts will be of particular interest to people in Washington.

• Crypto: Price targets for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are common market options.
• Economics: Washington residents can find markets for interest rate decisions from the federal reserve, updates in the Consumer Price Index, unemployment reports, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) statistics. A great exchange for these contracts is Polymarket.
• Entertainment: If you want to bet on the Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, reality television, or movie theater box office returns, you’ll find those options on exchanges like DraftKings Predictions. It’s important to note that these markets may only be available for a short time and they tend to carry less liquidity than contracts in other categories, though.
• Politics and elections: The markets in this regard include national races and policy outcomes in addition to some Washington-specific political futures. Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, one of the most competitive House races in the country, headlines the local events available for wagering on Kalshi in 2026, alongside state legislative contests.
• Sports: People interested in events that the Cougars, Huskies, Kraken, Mariners, Seahawks, Sounders, and Storm participate in will find relevant markets on apps like FanDuel Predicts. Future options might include whether the NBA will return to Seattle. Global sporting events of all kinds comprise other choices.

Sports prediction markets vs. Washington sports betting

If you’re interested in trading on sports and you’re in Washington, you have two regulated options. Those are visiting physical tribal casinos with sportsbooks or trading event contracts on a CFTC-licensed exchange online.

As in Washington, gaming regulatory bodies across many states have raised objections to the offerings of prediction markets, especially in regard to contracts based on sporting events. From their perspective and the perspective of tribal gaming authorities, prediction markets are peeling off action that they might otherwise be taking.

There are multiple federal court cases ongoing that might alter the status quo for prediction markets in places like Washington. The US Congress is also considering legislation covering event contracts.

Barring significant action from Congress or the US Supreme Court, though, substantial alterations are unlikely. At this time, the only vehicle toward that end would be new regulations from the CFTC.

The preemption fight and what it means for Washington traders

The WSGC has made its stance that prediction markets are not authorized by state law clear. However, the WSGC also acknowledged in that statement that federal law generally preempts state statutes and the courts will decide the future of event contract offerings online.

Among those cases are appeals currently before the US Third Circuit and Fourth Circuit, regarding disputes that originated in Maryland and New Jersey. Another of particular note for Washingtonians is a lawsuit that is currently going through the process in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

That is of special relevance for people in Washington because the Ninth Circuit’s jurisdiction covers the state. In that dispute, Kalshi has sought injunctive relief against Nevada authorities looking to ban its sports-based contracts in that state.

At the time of this writing, the Ninth has denied an emergency stay, although further hearings are pending. The CFTC has weighed in on that matter, submitting an amicus brief in support of Kalshi.

Meanwhile, Nick Brown’s lawsuit against Kalshi in state courts could go through the appeals process and become cause for further action at the federal level. If the federal appellate courts issue contradicting opinions, the US Supreme Court may take up an appeal of one of the outstanding cases.

Unless Congress changes the laws on the books prior to a Supreme Court decision, those justices will likely determine to what extent federal preemption applies in this context. That resolution could take years, though.

Other state markets

Tax treatment: prediction markets in Washington

Washington residents are not subject to a state income tax but do pay federal taxes on their income. The Internal Revenue Service treats capital gains as a separate form of income with different rates, allowing for up to $3,000 in net losses to offset ordinary income.

People who trade on prediction markets are best off consulting with a tax professional to ensure they have reported their activity correctly on their income tax returns and made any necessary payments. That applies in all states, including Washington.

Conclusion

The legal situation in Washington has shifted materially. A King County Superior Court judge issued a final order on August 13, 2026, requiring Kalshi to geofence most contract categories out of the state by September 2 (with a preliminary IP-based block due August 19), while leaving commodities, climate, economics, and finance markets open. Kalshi has asked the court to reconsider. Washington traders should follow developments closely before opening new accounts or funding existing ones.

Know before you trade

A King County Superior Court judge issued a final order against Kalshi on August 13, 2026, setting firm compliance deadlines of August 19 and September 2 for geofencing most contract categories out of Washington. Kalshi has filed for reconsideration. Washingtonians should stay current on how this ruling affects platform access before funding new positions.

Platforms provide users with responsible trading resources like customizable limits free of charge. People looking for more information on safer wagering can consult the National Council on Problem Gambling and the WSGC for more information.