Why we exist
California has the fifth-largest economy in the world, 39 million residents, and no legal online sportsbook. California voters rejected sports betting in 2022 — twice — and the political appetite to revisit that decision is dormant.
At the same time, federal regulation of prediction markets has matured rapidly. Platforms like Kalshi, Polymarket, Sleeper, and others operate as CFTC-regulated event-contract venues, legally available in all 50 states under federal commodities law.
Most of the coverage of these platforms is either marketing-speak from the platforms themselves or framed for national audiences that miss what's specifically relevant to Californians. We started California Prediction Markets to fill that gap. Our focus is on California residents who want to understand what's legally available, how it works, and which platforms fit their use case.
What we cover
- Platform reviews — deep, honest takes on every CFTC-regulated prediction market available to California residents
- California legality — the legal framework that makes prediction markets available here when sportsbooks aren't
- Seasonal events — Lakers playoffs, the World Cup, NBA Finals, NFL, elections, Fed meetings
- Market mechanics — how event contracts actually work, how pricing moves, how to think about probability
- Comparisons — side-by-side looks at the most common platform decisions
Who we are
California Prediction Markets is written and edited by Catie Di Stefano, an independent California-based writer covering federally regulated event-contract platforms. We are not affiliated with any prediction market platform. We make money through affiliate relationships with the platforms we review — more on that in our disclosure page — but no platform pays for coverage, favorable reviews, or editorial influence.
How we review
Our platform reviews follow a consistent methodology documented in our editorial standards page. In short: we open accounts, fund them with real money, place real trades, and test withdrawals. We update reviews when platforms materially change their products, fees, or regulatory standing.
Get in touch
Questions, corrections, tips, or platform feedback: email catie@californiapredictionmarkets.com. Catie reads every message.
साइट के बारे में
California Prediction Markets कौन लिखता है?
- कैटि डि स्टेफ़ानो, एक स्वतंत्र कैलिफ़ोर्निया-आधारित लेखक जो संघीय-विनियमित इवेंट-contract platforms को कवर करती हैं। कैटि साइट पर हर एक लेख की प्राथमिक लेखिका और संपादक हैं।
क्या यह साइट स्वतंत्र है?
- हाँ। हम किसी भी prediction-market platform के स्वामित्व में नहीं हैं, न ही उसके द्वारा वित्तपोषित हैं, और न ही उससे संबद्ध हैं। हम कवरेज, अनुकूल reviews, या संपादकीय प्रभाव के लिए कोई भुगतान स्वीकार नहीं करते हैं।
आप पैसे कैसे कमाते हैं?
- जिन platforms की हम समीक्षा करते हैं, उनके साथ affiliate relationships के माध्यम से। जब कोई पाठक हमारे किसी लिंक का उपयोग करके sign up करता है, तो हम referral fee कमा सकते हैं। Affiliate status कभी भी यह निर्धारित नहीं करता है कि हम किसी platform को कैसे कवर करते हैं।
आप platforms की समीक्षा कैसे करते हैं?
- हम account खोलते हैं, उनमें वास्तविक पैसे का deposit करते हैं, वास्तविक trades करते हैं, और publish करने से पहले withdrawals का परीक्षण करते हैं। जब platforms उत्पादों, fees या नियामक स्थिति में महत्वपूर्ण बदलाव करते हैं तो reviews को update किया जाता है। पूरी कार्यप्रणाली हमारे editorial standards page पर है।