DraftKings Predictions Legal States 2026
DraftKings Predictions is DraftKings’ entry into the world prediction markets - real-money platforms that lets users speculate on real-world outcomes using simple yes/no contracts.
Unlike traditional sports betting, prediction markets don’t rely on state-by-state sportsbook licenses. Instead, they operate under a different regulatory framework, which is why DraftKings Predictions is available in far more places than DraftKings Sportsbook.
As of today, DraftKings Predictions is available in 47 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. - including many states where traditional sports betting in banned.
Let’s break down exactly where you can use it, what markets you can trade on, and where sports contracts fit into the picture.
Where Is DraftKings Predictions Available?
DraftKings Predictions is currently available in the following 47 states plus Washington, D.C.:
Alabama (AL), Alaska (AK), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Indiana (IN), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Nebraska (NE), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), North Dakota (ND), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Texas (TX), Utah (UT), Virginia (VA), Vermont (VT), Wisconsin (WI), West Virginia (WV), Wyoming (WY), and Washington, D.C.
If you’re in one of these states, you can access the DraftKings Predictions app and trade real-money event contracts without running into geo-blocks.
However, the types of markets you can trade depend on your state.
What Markets Does DraftKings Predictions Offer?
DraftKings Predictions is built around event-based prediction markets, where users trade yes/no contracts tied to real-world outcomes.
Depending on your state, these markets can include:
- Sports outcomes (game results, season-long events, etc.)
- Economic indicators
- Crypto
- Commodities
At the moment, DraftKings Predictions is more conservative than many national competitors - like Kalshi and Polymarket - when it comes to market categories. Politics, culture and entertainment markets are not widely offered yet, though DraftKings has signaled interest in expanding its market mix over time.
More importantly, however, not every state gets access to all of DraftKings Prediction's market types.
Which DraftKings Predictions Markets Are Available in My State?
DraftKings doesn’t treat prediction markets as a one-size-fits-all product. Instead of pushing the same set of markets nationwide and dealing with possible regulatory headaches, DraftKings tailors what’s available based on where you live.
That means two users can open the DraftKings Predictions app in different states and see very different market menus - each one designed to fit that state’s broader legal landscape.
Which States Does DraftKings Predictions Offer Sports Contracts In?
DraftKings Predictions currently offers its complete market offering - including sports-related prediction markets - in 17 states:
Alabama (AL), Alaska (AK), California (CA), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Minnesota (MN), Nebraska (NE), New Mexico (NM), North Dakota (ND), Oklahoma (OK), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Texas (TX), Utah (UT).
These states tend to share one thing in common: They don’t have broad, competitive online sportsbook access.
In those environments, DraftKings uses sports prediction markets as a way to let users engage with sports outcomes legally - without running a traditional sportsbook in the state.
In states where online sportsbooks are legal and widely available, DraftKings already offers sports betting through DraftKings Sportsbook instead.
Why Sports Contracts Are Offered in Some States and Not Others?

DraftKings’ approach with prediction markets is intentional and highly structured.
In states where traditional online sportsbooks are legal and well-established, DraftKings already operates its core sportsbook product. In those markets, offering sports prediction contracts alongside a sportsbook would create unnecessary overlap, blur regulatory lines, and complicate how sports betting is already regulated at the state level.
That’s why, in sportsbook-legal states like New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and others, DraftKings Predictions typically focuses on non-sports or financial markets, while sports betting activity is routed through DraftKings Sportsbook instead.
On the other hand, in states where online sportsbooks are not available - or where access to competitive sports betting is limited - DraftKings uses prediction markets as a legal alternative for sports speculation.
In states like Texas, California, Georgia, and others, sports contracts offered through DraftKings Predictions allow users to engage with sports outcomes under a different regulatory framework, without relying on state sports betting laws.
The result is a state-by-state balance. DraftKings offers sports prediction markets where they fill a genuine access gap, and pulls them back where traditional sportsbooks already exist.
DraftKings Predictions States With No Sports Markets
In many states, DraftKings Predictions is fully available - just without sports contracts. These include:
Colorado (CO), Delaware (DE), Indiana (IN), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), Oregon (OR), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), Wyoming (WY).
In these states, sports betting already exists through licensed sportsbooks. DraftKings doesn’t need prediction markets to handle sports action - it already has DraftKings Sportsbook doing that job.
Instead, DraftKings Predictions focuses on everything outside sports, including:
- Economic indicators
- Financial and macroeconomic events
- Culture and entertainment markets (Coming Soon)
- Political outcomes (Coming Soon)
If you live in one of these states, DraftKings Predictions isn’t replacing sportsbook betting - it’s complementing it.
DraftKings Predictions Financial Markets States
Some states take a more conservative approach. In these jurisdictions, DraftKings Predictions is limited to financial and macroeconomic markets only:
Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), Connecticut (CT), Illinois (IL), Iowa (IA), Montana (MT), Nevada (NV), Pennsylvania (PA), Tennessee (TN), Washington (WA).
In these states, users can speculate on things like:
- Market benchmarks
- Economic indicators
- Financial outcomes tied to real-world events
You won’t see sports, political, or culture-focused markets here. The product is narrower, but still offers plenty of real world outcomes to speculate on.
States DraftKings Prediction is Not Available In
DraftKings Predictions is currently not available in the following states:
Maine (ME), New Hampshire (NH), Ohio (OH).
Prediction markets operate under a different legal framework than sportsbooks, but that doesn’t mean every state is equally receptive to them. Some jurisdictions take a more conservative view on real-money speculation outside traditional gambling channels, especially when it involves financial-style contracts or event-based outcomes that don’t fit neatly into existing categories.
Rather than forcing the issue or operating in legal gray areas, DraftKings has opted to stay out of states where the regulatory environment is unclear or potentially hostile.
DraftKings Predictions Markets By State
| Market Type | States Available |
|---|---|
| Sports Predictions States (All Markets) | AL, AK, CA, FL, GA, HI, ID, MN, NE, NM, ND, OK, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT |
| Non-Sports States | CO, DE, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OR, VT, VA, WV, WI, WY |
| Financial Markets Only | AZ, AR, CT, IL, IA, MT, NV, PA, TN, WA |
| Not Available | ME, NH, OH |
How Does DraftKings Predictions Work?
DraftKings Predictions is built around event-based prediction markets, not traditional bets.
Instead of wagering against a sportsbook at fixed odds, users trade yes-or-no contracts tied to real-world outcomes. Each contract represents a simple question, and the price reflects how likely the market believes that outcome is to happen.
Questions you will find include things like:
- Will the Fed cut interest rates this month?
- Will a specific candidate win an election?
- Will a certain team win the Super Bowl?
You choose Yes or No and buy contracts at the current price. Contract prices usually range from $0.01 to $0.99.
- A $0.65 Yes contract means the market thinks there’s about a 65% chance the event happens.
- A $0.15 Yes contract implies a 15% chance.
If the event happens, the contract settles at $1. If it doesn’t, it settles at $0. Your profit comes from buying contracts you think are undervalued - or selling contracts you think are overpriced.
There’s no sportsbook setting lines behind the scenes. Prices move because other users are buying and selling, reacting to news, data, and shifting expectations.
You can:
- Hold contracts to settlement, collecting the full payout if you’re right, or
- Sell early, locking in profit (or limiting losses) if prices move in your favor
Much like sports betting, it’s still speculation. But the mechanics are more transparent, and the pricing tells you exactly what the market thinks at any moment.
Getting Started with DraftKings Predictions as a sports bettor

DraftKings Predictions doesn’t look or feel like a traditional sportsbook. The layout is different, the pricing is unfamiliar, and you’re trading contracts instead of placing bets.
More importantly, you’re not betting against the house. DraftKings Predictions is peer-to-peer, meaning prices move based on supply, demand, and breaking news - not because a bookmaker adjusted a line.
But once the initial culture shock wears off, the differences start to shrink. You’re still backing outcomes you believe will happen, reacting to news as it breaks, and paying more for safer outcomes than long shots.
The format may be new, but the fundamentals are the same. If you’ve used a sportsbook before, you already know how to think about DraftKings Predictions - you just have to adjust how you execute.
How Prediction Markets differ from Sportsbooks, DFS, and Social Betting apps
At a surface level, prediction markets can feel like just another betting product. In reality, they operate very differently - and those differences change how you speculate, manage risk, and think about value.
In prediction markets, contract prices function as live probability signals.
When demand for a “Yes” outcome increases, the price rises. When confidence fades, it drops.
You’re not interpreting odds formats or spreads - you’re deciding whether the market’s implied probability is right or wrong.
Traditional sportsbooks create and manage lines to control risk and protect margin. Prediction markets don’t work that way.
Prices are determined by users buying and selling contracts, meaning you’re trading against other participants - not a house designed to win over time.
When an event is resolved, contracts settle at a fixed value - typically $1 for a correct outcome and $0 for an incorrect one.
There’s no grading nuance, no push scenarios, and no interpretation of performance. Either the outcome happened, or it didn’t.
Unlike DFS contests or social/sweepstakes apps, prediction markets operate with real-money contracts. There are no virtual currencies, play-through requirements, or prize redemptions - profits and losses are direct and transparent.
Sportsbooks bake margin into every line. Prediction markets don’t. That doesn’t guarantee efficiency, but it does mean mispricing comes from crowd behavior, not operator design. For informed users, that distinction matters.
In sportsbooks, popularity creates more betting options. In prediction markets, popularity creates liquidity. Deeper markets tend to have tighter pricing and smoother movement, while thinner markets can swing quickly. Understanding that dynamic is part of using prediction markets responsibly.
Pros & Cons of Using DraftKings Predictions
Like any real-money product, DraftKings Predictions comes with trade-offs. The better you understand those, the smarter you will be in how you
Legal access in states without traditional sportsbooks
Transparent, market-driven pricing
Simple yes/no contracts that are easy to understand
Speculate on non-sports markets such as politics, economics, culture and more
Backed by a well-established, trusted brand
Shallow sports markets compared to full sportsbook
No parlays, teasers, or traditional live betting
Market availability varies significantly by state
Lower liquidity in some markets can cause price swings
If you’re expecting DraftKings Predictions to replace a sportsbook entirely, you’ll probably be disappointed.
If you understand it as a different way to speculate on just about anything - especially in states where sports betting is not legal - then it actually offers an invaluable service.
Can I Win Real Money on DraftKings Predictions?
Yes - DraftKings Predictions is a real-money platform.
When a contract settles in your favor, it pays out cash value. Profits can be withdrawn, subject to standard account requirements, just like other DraftKings products.
A few important things to know:
- You’re trading real money, not virtual currency or sweepstakes points.
- Identity verification is required before withdrawals, which helps keep the platform compliant and secure.
- Withdrawals are processed through established payment methods, not gift cards or redemption systems.
If you’ve used DraftKings Sportsbook, DFS or DraftKings Casino before, the wallet side of DraftKings Predictions will feel familiar, even though the product itself operates differently.
Why DraftKings Predictions Is Legal

DraftKings Predictions operates outside the state sportsbook licensing model because it is not structured as a sportsbook.
Traditional sports betting involves an operator accepting wagers against its customers under state gambling statutes. DraftKings Predictions, by contrast, facilitates trading in event-based contracts that are regulated federally as commodities derivatives, not gambling wagers. The operator is not taking the other side of a bet in the same way a sportsbook does.
That structural distinction is what governs everything else.
Because these contracts fall under federal commodities oversight, they are not automatically subject to state sports betting laws. State gambling statutes were written to regulate bookmakers, not federally regulated prediction markets, and DraftKings Predictions is designed to remain on the correct side of that line.
At the same time, DraftKings does not treat federal oversight as a blank check. Contract availability is deliberately limited in certain states - particularly where offering sports-related contracts could create classification ambiguity or conflict with existing sportsbook regimes.
From a legal perspective, this is a conservative posture. DraftKings is not testing the outer boundaries of what prediction markets might allow within legal sports betting states; it is operating within what current regulatory frameworks can clearly support.
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DraftKings Predictions Legal States FAQ
DraftKings Predictions is legal and operational in 47 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.
The only states where DraftKings Predictions is not available at all are:
Maine (ME), New Hampshire (NH), and Ohio (OH).
In the remaining states, DraftKings Predictions is active - but the types of markets available depend on where you live. Some states offer the full range of markets, some exclude sports, and others are limited to financial markets only.
If you’re unsure what applies to your state, check the availability breakdown earlier in this guide.
Yes. DraftKings Predictions is a legitimate, real-money prediction market platform operated by DraftKings.
Unlike offshore prediction sites or unregulated betting apps, DraftKings Predictions operates under a federally regulated framework.
Contracts are structured as event-based derivatives rather than traditional wagers, and the platform uses the same compliance infrastructure, identity verification processes, and payment systems as DraftKings’ other regulated products.
Yes. DraftKings Predictions uses the same account protections and verification procedures as DraftKings Sportsbook and Casino.
Users must verify their identity before withdrawing funds, transactions are processed through established payment channels, and accounts are monitored under regulated compliance standards.
As with any real-money product, risk exists - but from a platform standpoint, DraftKings Predictions operates within a regulated and structured environment.
Yes. DraftKings Predictions is legal and fully operational in California.
California is one of the states where all markets are available, including sports contracts.
Users in California can speculate for real money on:
- Sports outcomes
- Political events
- Economic indicators
- Financial markets
Because California does not have a competitive online sportsbook market, DraftKings Predictions provides an alternative way to legally engage with sports-related outcomes.
Yes. DraftKings Predictions is legal in Texas.
Texas is an All Markets Available state. That means users can access:
- Sports contracts
- Political markets
- Economic indicators
- Financial markets
Since Texas does not have legal online sportsbooks, DraftKings Predictions gives users a regulated way to speculate on sports and other real-world events.
Yes. DraftKings Predictions is legal in Florida.
Florida is an All Markets Available state. Users can trade:
- Sports outcomes
- Political events
- Economic indicators
- Financial markets
While sports betting exists in Florida under a limited structure, DraftKings does not operate its traditional sportsbook there. DraftKings Predictions provides a separate way for users to engage with sports-related outcomes legally.
Yes. DraftKings Predictions is legal in Pennsylvania.
However, Pennsylvania is a Financial Markets Only state.
Sports contracts, political markets, and other non-financial categories are not currently available through DraftKings Predictions in Pennsylvania.
Sports betting activity in Pennsylvania is handled through licensed sportsbooks, including DraftKings Sportsbook.
Yes. DraftKings Predictions is legal in North Carolina.
However, North Carolina falls under the Sports Markets Unavailable category.
Users here can speculate on:
- Political events
- Economic indicators
- Financial markets
Sports contracts are not offered through DraftKings Predictions in North Carolina, as sports betting is handled through traditional sportsbook channels in the state.
Yes. DraftKings Predictions is legal in Arizona.
Arizona is a Financial Markets Only state, meaning only financial and macroeconomic markets are available here.
Sports contracts and political markets are not offered in Arizona through DraftKings Predictions.
Yes. DraftKings Predictions is legal in Indiana.
Users here can speculate on:
- Political events
- Economic indicators
- Financial markets
Sports betting remains available through DraftKings Sportsbook in Indiana, but sports contracts are not offered through the prediction markets product.
No. DraftKings Predictions is not available in Ohio.
Users located in Ohio cannot access the DraftKings Predictions platform at this time. S
ports betting remains available in Ohio through licensed sportsbooks, including DraftKings Sportsbook, but the prediction markets product does not operate in the state.
Yes. DraftKings Predictions is legal in New York.
New York users can speculate on:
- Political events
- Economic indicators
- Financial markets
Sports betting in New York is handled through DraftKings Sportsbook, not through prediction markets.
Yes. FanDuel Predicts is legal in Illinois.
In Illinois, FanDuel Predicts complements legal sportsbooks by offering non-sports prediction markets.
Illinois users can speculate on:
- Political events
- Economic indicators
- Culture and entertainment markets
Yes. DraftKings Predictions is legal in Illinois.
Illinois is a Financial Markets Only state, meaning only Financial and macroeconomic markets are offered here.
Sports contracts and political markets are not available in Illinois through DraftKings Predictions.
Yes. DraftKings Predictions is legal in Michigan.
Michigan users have access to:
- Political markets
- Economic indicators
- Financial markets
Sports contracts are not offered through DraftKings Predictions in Michigan - but you can bet on sports using DraftKings Sportsbook.
Yes. DraftKings Predictions is legal in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts users can speculate on:
- Political events
- Economic indicators
- Financial markets
Sports betting remains available through DraftKings Sportsbook, while DraftKings Predictions focuses on non-sports markets in the state.

Cole cut his teeth as a sportswriter in Texas, covering everything from Longhorns games to small-town Friday night lights. A lifelong bettor stuck with offshore books for over a decade thanks to Texas' slow path to legalization, he eventually found his way into the world of social sportsbooks - where he uncovered a fast-growing, community of bettors.
Today, he writes for the millions of Americans in states without legal books, helping them explore safe ways to bet without running afoul of the law.
As editor-in-chief, he aims to keep BettingScanner honest, human, and grounded in what bettors actually care about: fairness, fun, and finding your lane - even when the state won’t give you one.




