DraftKings has unveiled a new standalone app for real-money prediction markets, becoming the latest major player to enter a field that includes crypto-native platforms like Polymarket and Robinhood’s event contracts.
The product, called DraftKings Predictions, lets users trade on the outcomes of real-world events, starting with sports and finance, the company announced Friday.
It is registered with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the National Futures Association and will be available in 38 states to buy and sell event contracts.
To deepen its market offerings, DraftKings will connect with exchanges such as CME Group and plans to incorporate Railbird Technologies, which it recently acquired. This integration is expected to expand the types of markets available and improve the economy over time, it said.
The move puts DraftKings in direct competition with Polymarket, a popular crypto-based prediction market platform, and Robinhood (HOOD), which launched event contracts for sports scores earlier this year. Unlike Polymarket, which relies on blockchain-based infrastructure and stablecoins, DraftKings operates entirely within the existing financial system and app ecosystem.
Aside from the AI boom, prediction markets have quietly become one of the biggest financial stories of the year. Once a niche corner of crypto, markets for betting on real-world outcomes — from elections to sports to economic data — have surged into the mainstream. Platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi have experienced record volumes, drawing in both retailers and hedge funds and becoming double-digit billion dollar companies.
What’s driving the shift is a mix of regulatory clarity and cultural momentum. The CFTC’s greenlighting of certain event contracts has opened the door to more structured, compliant products, while public appetite for real-time, high-stakes speculation has never been stronger.
