Kalshi vs DraftKings Predictions
Kalshi
Regulated exchange · USD · United States
8.0 out of 10, editor score
- +Regulated: CFTC-designated contract market — Kalshi (CFTC DCM register: “Designated”, 3 November 2020)
- +$10 minimum deposit
- +7 market categories
DraftKings Predictions
Broker · USD · United States
— out of 10, editor score
- +iOS and Android apps
Verdict
Kalshi is the established exchange with a scored review and a wide market list; DraftKings Predictions, launched in December 2025, is a broker product for US users centred on sports. We have not scored DraftKings yet, so the comparison rests on structure and access rather than on a score.
Row by row
The edge on each row is marked. Built automatically from the platform records, so it never drifts from the reviews — rows that describe rather than rank, like jurisdiction or market categories, say “no edge” instead of picking a side.
| Criterion | Kalshi | DraftKings Predictions | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| Editor Score | 8/10 | Not rated | No edge |
| Type | Regulated exchange | Broker | No edge |
| Launched | 2021 | 2025 | No edge |
| Mobile apps | iOS, Android | iOS, Android | No edge |
| Fees | |||
| Fee conditions & evidence | The general taker formula is 0.07 × multiplier × contracts × price × (1 − price), subject to schedule rounding. Maker fees use 0.0175 with a default multiplier of zero, but selected series charge maker fees. No settlement fee; funding charges depend on the payment method. Review evidence · Official fee source | Fee conditions have not been verified. Review evidence | Depends on the trade |
| Maker fee | See fee conditions above | Not verified | No edge |
| Taker fee | See fee conditions above | Not verified | No edge |
| Withdrawal fee | — | — | No edge |
| Deposits and withdrawals | |||
| Minimum deposit | $10 | — | No edge |
| Currencies | USD | USD | No edge |
| Markets | |||
| Market categories | Politics, Sports, Crypto, Economy, Entertainment, Science, Other | Sports, Economy, Crypto | No edge |
| Public API | Yes | — | No edge |
| Access and regulation | |||
| Jurisdiction | United States | United States | No edge |
| Licensing | CFTC-designated contract market — Kalshi (CFTC DCM register: “Designated”, 3 November 2020) | CFTC-registered Futures Commission Merchant, NFA member — GUS III LLC d/b/a DraftKings Predictions (NFA ID 0571907, FCM registered 14 July 2026), CFTC-designated contract market — Railbird Exchange, LLC d/b/a DKeX (CFTC DCM register: “Designated”, 13 June 2025) | No edge |
| KYC required | Yes | Yes | No edge |
| KYC trigger | Mandatory before trading. Kalshi requires full legal name, date of birth, a residential address (no PO boxes or commercial addresses) and a live photo of a government ID — driver’s licence or passport — and states it is “mandated to gather this specific information from all Kalshi users due to our regulatory obligations under United States (US) law”, with proof of address, employment information or source of funds possible on top (help.kalshi.com, read 31 July 2026). | Requires an account with DraftKings’ CFTC-registered introducing broker subsidiary. The exact identity-verification requirements are not verified. | No edge |
| Supported countries | — | — | No edge |
Structure
Kalshi is a CFTC-designated contract market. DraftKings Predictions launched on 19 December 2025 as a standalone app and web product under CFTC oversight, operating as a broker rather than an exchange.
Access
DraftKings requires users to be physically in an eligible US state, DC or territory; Maine and New Hampshire are not on its list. Kalshi accepts US residents and many other countries.
Which one suits you
Choose Kalshi if…
→Traders who want the widest regulated market list and access from outside the US.
Choose DraftKings Predictions if…
→DraftKings customers in eligible US states who want sports event contracts in the DraftKings ecosystem.
FAQ
- Is DraftKings Predictions available in every state?
- No. DraftKings lists 48 states plus DC and territories; Maine and New Hampshire are excluded.
- Why is DraftKings Predictions not scored?
- We score a criterion only where a primary source supports it, and too few criteria were verifiable yet for a fair score.