Here is our 2025 guide to sports prediction markets and apps – trade outcomes, not place bets.
The newest option on the board when it comes to earning money on sports outcomes are sports event prediction apps. These sites are similar to sports betting apps. At the same time, there’s enough of a difference to keep the sports predictions apps from being classified as gambling sites.
These sports prediction apps operate in similar fashion to a commodities exchange. Rather than betting against the house as you would wager at online sportsbooks such as Betrivers and bet365, with prediction markets, you are choosing one side or the other of an issue and investing in a contract based on that outcome to occur. There’s action on the event once others choose to back the opposing side of the outcome in peer-to-peer competition.
Top Sports Prediction Apps
There are a growing number of options when it comes to sports event prediction sites. Some, like Real Clear Polling, PredictIt and Election Betting Odds stick strictly to political projections. Others, such as FiveThirtyEight, don’t offer the chance to win money through the site’s predictions. It’s free to play.
Following are the best US sites at which you can invest in sports prediction markets.
- Kalshi: The first prediction site in the market to be regulated by the US Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Kalshi.com offers prediction markets on sporting events, as well as futures markets on season outcomes.
- Robinhood: Utilizing Kalshi’s platform, since it was already regulated, commodities trading site Robinhood recently ventured into the sports prediction market.
- Crypto.com: Entering the sports prediction market at the time of the 2025 Super Bowl game, Crypto.com continues to offer sports predictions on its site.
🔍 Comparison: Top Sports Prediction Apps (2025)
| Feature / Platform | Kalshi | Robinhood (via Kalshi) | Crypto.com |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulation | ✅ CFTC-Regulated | ✅ Uses Kalshi’s CFTC License | ✅ CFTC-Regulated (in trading context) |
| Sports Markets | NBA Playoffs, Champions League, Golf | NCAA March Madness (2025) | NFL, NBA, NHL, European Soccer |
| Payout Structure | $1 per correct contract | Same as Kalshi | Variable – typically crypto-based returns |
| Currency Accepted | USD | USD | Crypto (BTC, ETH) |
| App Availability | Mobile Web Only | Robinhood App | Full Mobile App (iOS & Android) |
| How It Works | Buy/sell event contracts (Yes/No) | Mirrors Kalshi prediction system | Trade outcomes like stocks using crypto |
| Legal Status (U.S.) | Legal in most states; banned in some | Same as Kalshi | Restricted in some U.S. states |
| Withdrawals | Bank Transfer, ACH | Bank Transfer | Crypto Wallets |
| Unique Feature | First federally regulated prediction exchange | Mainstream access via Robinhood | Native crypto use and Super Bowl debut |
How They Work & Markets Offered
The approach with sports prediction markets is similar to how the stock market works. In essence, you want to buy low and sell high.
When you back a sports events prediction market, you earn a profit if your pick comes in as a winner.
At Kalshi.com the site is currently offering prediction markets on sporting events such as the NBA playoffs and European Champions League soccer. There are also futures, like a prediction on which team will win the NBA Finals and NBA Western Conference championship, as well as the US Open golf championship.
Robinhood was entering into the sports prediction fray during March madness. The site was offering prediction markets on both the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball championships.
Crypto.com provides markets on North American football, basketball and hockey and European soccer. And you can play these markets with Bitcoin or Ethereum.
How To Earn And Withdraw Money
Money is earned based on whether your outcome is the winner. Similar to playing the stock market, you can back opinions early on before they become more popular and thus more expensive, and you can later hedge against markets you’ve invested in that you now believe are going to fail.
When we checked in with Crypto.com, the site was offering contracts backing the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA Finals at $34. If the Thunder were to come through to win the title, and you would receive a $100 payout. At a $66 profit, you’ve more than doubled your investment.
You can withdraw funds from your account once a winning prediction is paid out.
The prediction markets make money by taking a commission on all transactions that are facilitated.
Legal Status and Available States
Each of the three sports prediction markets mentioned here are regulated by the US Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
While sports prediction markets are viable in most states, some states, such as New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, Ohio and Illinois have ordered prediction market sites to cease operations.
Resistance To This Form Of Gaming
There’s been significant resistance to sports prediction markets being put forth by some state gambling commissions. These regulators insist that the prediction markets are nothing more than a sports betting site in disguise.
These sports prediction sites counter that derivative trading in the prediction market is about traders setting a market. They insist they are already being regulated by the CFTC as trading instruments.
The CFTC has vowed to conduct hearings into this matter in the near future in an attempt to come to a resolution that is satisfactory to all stakeholders.
