Kalshi: Event Contracts, Not "Bets"

Kalshi is a designated contract market regulated by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which makes it the first prediction market to operate with direct federal oversight in the United States. Instead of placing a bet, traders buy or sell "Yes" or "No" contracts on a specific event; each contract settles at $1 if the outcome is correct and $0 if it isn't, with the live price between 1¢ and 99¢ reflecting the market's implied probability.

Kalshi built its reputation on political and economic contracts, but its Sports catalogue has expanded rapidly since regulatory clearance to list game-level and tournament contracts, now covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, college football, golf majors, tennis and more, distributed through both its own app and partner brokerage platforms.

Why Sports Bettors Choose Kalshi

Accessing Kalshi Through Brokers

Kalshi is built primarily around US-based, federally regulated access, which means account verification and funding are designed with the American trader in mind. For everyone else, betting brokers provide a more practical route to the same markets:

Kalshi is available through the Edge platform from MadMarket, the BLACK platform from BetInAsia, and SportMarket's classic betting offer, all of which handle onboarding and funding so international traders can reach Kalshi's contracts without navigating US-specific account requirements alone.

The Kalshi Advantage

Legitimacy Through Regulation

Unlike offshore exchanges operating in a legal grey area, Kalshi answers to the CFTC, the same regulator that oversees US futures and derivatives markets. That oversight covers how customer funds are held and how contracts are listed, which matters to traders who prioritize counterparty safety over marginal pricing advantages.

A Sports Catalogue Still Catching Up to Its Liquidity

Kalshi's sports contracts are newer than its political and economic markets, so liquidity on niche fixtures can still lag behind dedicated exchanges or Polymarket. Major games, however, already see meaningful volume, and the catalogue is expanding fast.

Fee Structure

Kalshi charges a small per-contract trading fee rather than a percentage commission on winnings. Because the fee scales with the contract's price and size, it's worth checking the fee schedule for the specific market you're trading, especially near even-money contracts where fees have the largest relative impact.

Why Access Through a Broker Makes Sense

Between US-focused identity verification, ACH-based funding, and a platform interface built for domestic users, going direct to Kalshi can be an awkward experience for traders based elsewhere. A broker account consolidates verification, funding and support into a process closer to what you already use for other exchanges on this site.

Getting Started with Kalshi

Broker Selection Process

When choosing a broker for Kalshi access, consider these key factors:

• Verification Speed: Compare how quickly each broker can get you trading
• Sports Coverage: Confirm which leagues and tournaments are actually listed
• Fee Transparency: Understand any markup added on top of Kalshi's own per-contract fees
• Support Quality: Evaluate the broker's responsiveness for settlement or funding questions

Kalshi: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kalshi legal?

Yes. Kalshi operates as a CFTC-regulated designated contract market in the United States, which is what distinguishes it from offshore prediction markets and traditional sportsbooks operating under gaming licenses.

What sports can I trade on Kalshi?

Kalshi's sports contracts now span the NFL, NBA, MLB, college football, golf majors, tennis and other major events, with new game-level and tournament markets added regularly.

How does Kalshi differ from Polymarket?

Kalshi is a CFTC-regulated US exchange settling in dollars, while Polymarket is a global, crypto-settled platform with typically deeper overall liquidity. Many traders access both through a broker to compare pricing across the two.

Do I need a US bank account to trade Kalshi?

Direct access is built around US identity verification and ACH funding. Accessing Kalshi through a broker's Edge, BLACK or classic offer avoids this requirement, letting international traders fund their account through more familiar methods.

How are Kalshi contracts settled?

Each Yes/No contract settles automatically at $1 or $0 once the underlying event resolves, based on Kalshi's published settlement rules for that market.

Access Kalshi Through Our Trusted Brokers