Quick Facts About Prediction Markets in CA
- Prediction markets are accessible in California under CFTC regulations.
- Prediction markets are not sportsbooks, which aren't permitted in CA.
- Only California residents aged 18 and above can trade in prediction markets.
Are Prediction Markets Legal in California?
Yes, prediction markets are available in California, but the state doesn’t regulate them locally. The platforms are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which gives them federal approval to operate across the US, including CA.
In our research, traders often ask about the legal status of prediction markets in California because of sports event trading. For context, the Golden State has yet to legalize online sports betting. However,
sports prediction markets
are entirely different because you buy and sell Yes/No event contracts, not wager on odds.
Unlike sportsbooks that set odds, prediction markets in CA are peer-to-peer (P2P). The apps don't assign the price of each event contract you see. Instead, it’s based on market conditions, rising when more people buy and falling when they sell.
The event contract price is between $0.01 and $0.99, and you receive a $1 payout per contract if your prediction is correct. You can choose to sell early if you want.
Requirements to Use Prediction Markets in CA
If you’re in California, you have to be at least 18 years old to register and trade on prediction markets. In our reviews, CFTC-regulated apps will ask for proof of identity, such as a passport or driver’s license. Plus, you may have to submit a real-time selfie as a liveness check. You’ll only be allowed to buy and sell event contracts if you pass the check.
Open Kalshi
18+ and present in participating states. Terms and conditions apply. http://kalshi.com/tc/500
Open Polymarket
18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization.
Open OG
18+ If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER Prediction is an event contract that is a derivatives product offered by Crypto.com: Buy, Sell & Trade Crypto with a Trusted App | Derivatives North America (CDNA), a CFTC-regulated exchange through OG technology. Trading on CDNA involves risk and may not be appropriate for all. By trading you risk losing your cost to enter any transaction, including fees. You should carefully consider whether trading on CDNA is appropriate for you in light of your investment experience and financial resources. Any trading decisions you make are solely your responsibility and at your own risk. Terms apply. Trading involves risk of loss. Bonus credits cannot be withdrawn immediately.
Upsides and Downsides of California Prediction Markets
CA residents can access prediction markets thanks to CFTC compliance. We commend the platforms because they feature events from different niches, and the P2P market is transparent. The main caveat is that the apps aren’t regulated locally in California, and state laws may change in the future. Therefore, you should monitor any legal updates as a CA trader. We’ve summarized these pros and cons below:
Pros and Cons
- Permitted under CFTC regulations
- Variety of prediction market categories
- Transparent event contract pricing and payout
The Best Prediction Markets in California
Many prediction market apps are active in the Golden State, but we only want the best options for you. So, we took our time to test and select the top three. Find out what each has to offer from our reviews below:
Crypto.com: Pros & Cons
- Competition-based promotions
- iOS & Android apps
- Minimalist website design
- Beginner-friendly
Coming first on our
list of prediction markets
in CA is the popular Crypto.com. The app allows trading on events in several categories, but from our tests, it’s more ideal for politics. If you sign up, you can predict election outcomes at different levels, including mayoral, gubernatorial, senatorial, and presidential.
Crypto.com displays clear Yes/No prices for each event, with blue and red color contrasts. We appreciate that for usability, but the more commendable feature is the day count at the top. With one look at an election event, you can tell how many days until the polls open.
On Crypto.com, we traded event contracts on the California Governor Election Winner. As such, you can expect to see political events in the Golden State on the app.
Sponsored by Crypto.com – Not investment advice. Trading prediction markets and crypto involves risk, including potential loss of your stake. Consider your risk tolerance before participating. Crypto.com connects U.S. users to CDNA (regulated by CFTC) for derivatives trading. CDNA membership required. Trading may not be suitable for all—you could lose your entire investment plus fees. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. This is not a solicitation or recommendation to trade.
Kalshi – Best for Sports Prediction Markets
Kalshi: Pros & Cons
- Fully CFTC-regulated exchange
- Diverse markets including sports, politics, and economics
- Supports PayPal, Venmo, and Crypto deposits
- Highly rated mobile app for iOS and Android
- Trading fees apply to both makers and takers
- Bank withdrawals can take several business days
Without question, Kalshi is one of the most popular prediction market apps in California. We highly rate the platform for sports event trading, as it has better coverage for the category than many alternatives. To be specific, Kalshi features 15+ sports, and we saw over 2,400 events at the time of our review.
Kalshi covers the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB. Additionally, you’ll see events in tennis, soccer, cricket, golf, MMA, esports, and many more. For the top sports, the prediction options we saw often include game winner, spreads, totals, and player props.
Of course, we saw games involving California-based sports teams on Kalshi. Notable mentions include the LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors in the NBA, and the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in the NFL. Remember that you’re only trading event contracts and not betting.
OG – Best for Crypto Prediction Markets
OG: Pros and Cons
- Secure and regulated by the CFTC
- No user limiting on trades
- Wide range of market categories
- Great National Championship offer
- Sports contracts are restricted in some states
In the OG app, we found event contracts on 15+ crypto coins and tokens. The platform is extensive in this category, featuring BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL, ADA, DOGE, LTC, and BCH. More niche options, such as SHIB, LINK, AVAX, and XLM, are also available.
As a CA prediction market trader, you can buy and sell 5-minute and 20-minute crypto event contracts on OG. For longer durations, the platform has 2-hour, daily, and weekly options. Interestingly, OG also supports one-time crypto prediction markets.
The crypto prediction markets we encountered on OG are mainly price-related. For instance, you can trade on BTC’s all-time high in a year, ETH’s price at 5 PM, or Solana going up or down in five minutes. The app lets you display the event contract prices in percentage or moneyline formats.
Prediction Trading is facilitated through Crypto.com | Derivatives North America (CDNA). Foris DAX Inc. and Foris Inc. (d/b/a OG ) provide access to CDNA, a platform regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), allowing users to trade derivatives in accordance with CDNA’s rules and regulations.
How We Rank the Best Prediction Market Apps in California
Our review process for selecting prediction market platforms in CA is thorough. We test apps based on multiple factors, and below are the areas that matter most:
| Ranking factor |
Description |
| Reputation |
While California prediction markets regulated by the CFTC are legitimate, we still consider their individual reputation. We assess what existing traders say about the apps to confirm they’re dependable in the long run. |
| Market variety |
In our top three CA prediction market apps, we highlighted sports, politics, and crypto events. However, in our tests, we also check other categories, such as culture, climate, and economics. The more market variety a brand offers, the higher it scores for this rating factor. |
| Liquidity and volume |
Prediction market apps with high liquidity and trading volumes mean there are plenty of active buyers and sellers. We prioritize this because low liquidity often leads to high price volatility, slower order matching, and wider bid-ask spreads. |
| Trading fees |
Most CA prediction market platforms have a built-in fee when buying or selling event contracts. By our standards, the acceptable range is $0.01 to $0.02, and brands with significantly higher fees don’t make our list. |
| Payment methods |
We focus on apps that offer secure, familiar deposit and withdrawal options. These include methods like credit/debit cards, ACH, PayPal, Venmo, and cryptocurrency. Our top-rated platforms must also have relatively quick transaction processing times. |
| Mobile interface |
We don’t skip analyzing the prediction market app designs to confirm that they’re easy to use. During our analysis, we review for quick browsing, with clear menus and neat categorization of prediction market events. |
Conclusion – Trade with the Best CA Prediction Market
Prediction markets are legal in California because the CFTC regulates them at the federal level. Based on our research, the Golden State itself doesn’t have any specific legislation regarding apps. Therefore, if you’re in CA, you can register and trade event contracts, provided you’re 18 or older.
We’ve rated the top three prediction market platforms to use in California: Crypto.com, Kalshi, and OG. All are CFTC-regulated, so you can trust that they’re legit. From our reviews, you’ll discover where each performs best and pick a suitable platform.
When you choose your preferred prediction market app, tap the links on this page to visit the website and install the app. Then, you can register and start trading. Remember to stay up to date with California state laws, as local rules regarding prediction markets may change.
The Sport Prediction Market Apps We Recommend
1.
Open Kalshi
18+ and present in participating states. Terms and conditions apply. http://kalshi.com/tc/500
2.
Deposit $10 get a $20 Trading Bonus
Open Polymarket
18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization.
3.
4.
Trade $10, Get $10 Welcome Offer
Open OG
18+ If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER Prediction is an event contract that is a derivatives product offered by Crypto.com: Buy, Sell & Trade Crypto with a Trusted App | Derivatives North America (CDNA), a CFTC-regulated exchange through OG technology. Trading on CDNA involves risk and may not be appropriate for all. By trading you risk losing your cost to enter any transaction, including fees. You should carefully consider whether trading on CDNA is appropriate for you in light of your investment experience and financial resources. Any trading decisions you make are solely your responsibility and at your own risk. Terms apply. Trading involves risk of loss. Bonus credits cannot be withdrawn immediately.
5.
Are Prediction Markets Legal in California? FAQs
🌟 Is It Allowed to Use Prediction Market Apps in CA?
Yes, it’s allowed to use prediction market apps in CA. The platforms operate under CFTC oversight and are federally regulated to offer event contracts in the US, including California.
📱 What Prediction Market Apps Are Available in California?
Several prediction market apps are available in California. Our top three platforms to join in the Golden State are Crypto.com, Kalshi, and OG.
⚽ Do Prediction Market Apps Offer Sports Betting in California?
No, prediction market apps don’t offer sports betting in California. The platforms only feature sports-related event contracts, which are financial derivatives you can buy and sell. Market conditions drive each contract's price.
📊 What Prediction Markets Can I Trade in California?
You can trade in different prediction markets in California. The top apps in the state cover events in sports, politics, culture, economics, crypto, climate, and more.
For guidance on responsible trading and risk awareness, the following free official resources are available:
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by
Ryan Leaver
as part of our fact-checking process.
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