California Prediction Markets

Compare prediction markets for California traders.

Side-by-side comparisons of every major CFTC-regulated prediction market available to Californians. Pick the right platform for your use case: sports, politics, macro, or culture.

Updated

Kalshi · Trade $25 and Get $25!

CAPREDICTSClaim (opens in a new tab)
21+ · T&Cs apply

Certain limitations apply. The offer is available to new users only, subject to the terms and conditions at kalshi.com/tc/500. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information.

We earn a commission · Disclosure

Head-to-head comparisons for Californians choosing between Polymarket, ProphetX, Kalshi, OG and Novig: regulation, fees, market range, and which one fits a state with no legal sportsbook.

For an overview of every app Californians can use, see California prediction markets.

Kalshi · Trade $25 and Get $25!

CAPREDICTS

Claim on Kalshi (opens in a new tab)

Certain limitations apply. The offer is available to new users only, subject to the terms and conditions at kalshi.com/tc/500. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information.

Last checked October 27, 2026

Our pick for each type of trader

No single platform is best for everyone. These picks come from the same tests as the ranking, and each one lists its main drawback.

Best for politics and news

Polymarket

Polymarket has the deepest live order book and the tightest spreads on big politics, news and culture markets.

Sign up at Polymarket US (opens in a new tab)

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.

Best for sports

ProphetX

ProphetX is a sports-first exchange where you trade against other people, so there is no house margin built into the price.

Drawback: Built around sports: check the app for other markets. Not available in Nevada.

Sign up at ProphetX (opens in a new tab)

New users only. T&Cs apply. ProphetX's minimum age is 18 (or the local age of majority if higher); we recommend 21+. Not available in Nevada. Trading involves risk.

Best for beginners

Kalshi

Kalshi works on iPhone, Android and the web, takes bank and debit card deposits, and covers the widest mix of markets in one account.

Drawback: It charges a per-contract fee, shown before you confirm an order. Not available in Michigan, Nevada or Washington state.

Sign up at Kalshi (opens in a new tab)

Certain limitations apply. The offer is available to new users only, subject to the terms and conditions at kalshi.com/tc/500. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information.

Biggest sign-up offer

ProphetX

Trade $50, Earn $75! (code CAPREDICTS). It is the largest sign-up offer we list for California.

Drawback: For new customers only, and you must meet the offer's conditions before the bonus is paid. Read the terms below.

Sign up at ProphetX (opens in a new tab)

New users only. T&Cs apply. ProphetX's minimum age is 18 (or the local age of majority if higher); we recommend 21+. Not available in Nevada. Trading involves risk.

Best for setting your own price

Novig

Novig is a peer-to-peer sports exchange: you set the price you want and are matched with other traders.

Drawback: Sports only and built for experienced traders. Not available in Arizona, Michigan or Nevada.

Sign up at Novig (opens in a new tab)

Restrictions & requirements apply. Not available in all states. 21+. Event contract trading involves risk & is not appropriate for all. Consider if it's appropriate for you in light of financial circumstances. See novig.com/terms for information.

Best if you already use Crypto.com

OG (by Crypto.com)

OG is the event-contract product from Crypto.com. It covers sports, crypto and economics markets and accepts California residents 21+.

Drawback: Fewer politics markets than Kalshi or Polymarket.

How we rank

The ranking comes from the scorecard on our methodology page. Each platform is scored on five things:

  • Regulation and California availability (25%): who regulates the platform and whether California residents can open an account.
  • Fees and order fills (25%): trading, deposit and withdrawal fees, and how our test orders were filled.
  • Market range and liquidity (20%): how many markets are live and how much trading there is on the main contracts.
  • Deposits and withdrawals (15%): which payment methods work and how long the money takes to arrive.
  • App quality and support (15%): app stability, the website, and how support answered a test request.

The sign-up offer is shown for each platform but is not part of the score.

Tested by Catie Di Stefano, who opens an account, deposits our own money, places trades and withdraws. The full process is on our methodology page.

We earn a commission when you open an account through the links on this page. That is how this site is funded. See our affiliate disclosure.

When each platform was last checked

Check the facts yourself

Fees, state lists and offer terms come from each operator's own fee schedule and terms, which we read during testing.

Frequently asked questions

Kalshi vs Polymarket: which wins for Californians?

Polymarket first for depth and tight spreads; Kalshi for the widest market mix.

Is ProphetX or Kalshi cheaper for sports?

Usually ProphetX. It matches you with other traders instead of a house-set price, so there is no built-in margin, and commission applies only to winning positions. Kalshi charges a fee that is shown when you place the order.

Which of these platforms can California residents use?

Polymarket, ProphetX, Kalshi, OG and Novig accept California residents (minimum age 18 on most of these apps, 21 on Novig; we recommend 21+). Rebet is not available in California. Sleeper and Chalkboard are fantasy and pick'em apps, not CFTC-regulated exchanges, so check each app for what it offers in California.

Sign up at Kalshi (opens in a new tab) Sign up at Polymarket US (opens in a new tab)

Already have Kalshi? Add a second app

  • OG: Trade $25 Get $50 in Rewards! (New users only) (code CAPREDICTS) · 42 states + D.C. Claim on OG (opens in a new tab)
    Paid partnership with OG. Terms and conditions apply. Trading derivatives involves risk and may not be appropriate for all. Availability subject to jurisdictional limitations. For more information, visit: OG.com.
  • ProphetX: Trade $50, Earn $75! (code CAPREDICTS) · 49 states + D.C. Claim on ProphetX (opens in a new tab)
    New users only. T&Cs apply. ProphetX's minimum age is 18 (or the local age of majority if higher); we recommend 21+. Not available in Nevada. Trading involves risk.

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