New York Prediction Markets: Are They Legal? Best Apps & Bonuses (October 2026)

New York prediction markets have a contested legal status; there is no blanket statewide approval covering every platform and contract.

The state has brought actions against prediction market apps including Kalshi, Polymarket US, and Gemini, arguing that their offerings constitute gambling without the required state authorization. These are the state’s allegations and legal position, not interchangeable with a final judgment against every prediction platform. 

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission takes a different position on jurisdiction. It has sued New York over interference with federally regulated event markets and issued an emergency order directing Kalshi to continue operating under federal requirements.

Does federal regulation guarantee New York access?

No, an operator’s federal regulatory status does not establish that every product is available in every location. Platforms can impose their own restrictions: Underdog excludes New York from Prediction Picks, for example, while Novig includes the state in its eligibility policy. 

Are nonsports prediction markets treated differently?

Market selection can differ between sports and non-sports products. FanDuel Predicts, for example, separates access to sports contracts from its broader financial and economic offering. However, New York’s enforcement concerns aren't limited to football or basketball, so nonsports availability shouldn't be treated as automatic legal clearance.

Which New York prediction market should you choose?

Begin with the product you can access, then compare the contracts you actually want to trade. For local elections or economic releases, a broad event catalog matters. For frequent sports trading, order controls, transaction costs and rewards may be more relevant.

A large welcome bonus should come after those checks, not replace them.

Is sports betting legal in New York?

Yes. Online sports betting is legal in New York for adults 21 and older using state-licensed sportsbooks while physically within the state. For traditional wagering rather than prediction contracts, explore our New York sports betting guide to compare licensed apps, welcome offers, and state betting rules.

There is no single set of account requirements shared by all the platforms in this guide.

The last point deserves particular attention for anyone working around financial information, public agencies or the events being traded. Knowing more about a subject is not the same as having permission to trade on restricted information.

Before opening an account, check that your chosen platform accepts New York users and offers the contracts you want to trade. The steps below cover registration, promo codes, verification and funding so you can review the requirements before placing your first order.

1. Check New York eligibility

Confirm that the operator accepts your location and offers the specific product you want. Do not assume a brand’s fantasy, crypto or other services establish prediction-market access.

2. Create an account

Register with your email address and complete the required account details. To access an eligible welcome offer, follow one of our SI-Verified links or enter the relevant promo code when prompted. Check the promotion’s New York eligibility before depositing.

• 🟢 Kalshi promo code: VIP60
• 🔵 Polymarket promo code: SIBONUS
• 🧙‍♂️ ProphetX promo code: SICOM
• ➡️ Novig promo code: SIBONUS
• 🐶 Underdog promo code: SICOM
• 🟠 OG promo code: SIBONUS
• ➕ Plus500 promo code: SICOM

Entering a code is only the first step. Review the offer’s deposit requirements, qualifying trades and deadlines before committing funds.

3. Complete identity verification

Provide the documents the platform requests. Kalshi, for example, requires individual account verification and may request a valid government-issued ID. 

4. Fund your trading balance

Check the available payment methods, minimum deposit and any funding charges. Set a spending limit before transferring money rather than increasing your deposit to reach a promotional threshold.

5. Find a market and read its terms

Search for the event, team, election or economic release you follow. Check exactly what must happen for your selected contract to pay, including its settlement source and deadline.

6. Review the order

Choose the side, price, and quantity. Where supported, a limit order lets you specify your price, but it does not guarantee execution. Inspect fees and available liquidity before submitting. 

7. Manage your position

Monitor the contract until you sell or it settles. An early exit depends on the platform’s trading rules and available buying interest; seeing a higher displayed price does not guarantee that your entire position can be sold there.

Compare the qualifying requirements as carefully as the headline reward. A deposit-only promotion, a settled-trade offer and a reward paid in installments require different commitments.

The offers below are published campaigns associated with the reviewed platforms. They are not a guarantee of promotional eligibility for every New York user.

Below, we've highlighted all the best prediction market promos in detail. These operators are a perfect replacement if you want an alternative to sportsbook promos.

Kalshi in New York is our first choice for users who want to trade on sports events, and its sports coverage is the main reason it leads our New York prediction markets comparison. Kalshi's market selection spans the NFL, NBA, MLB, and other major competitions, giving fans a place to explore individual matchups alongside longer-term sports outcomes. For someone following the Bills, Knicks, or Yankees, that means comparing more than one type of prediction rather than focusing exclusively on the next game.

Its catalog also includes markets directly connected to the state, from the governor’s race to New York City rental prices, alongside national economic outcomes. That gives it major platform relevance beyond sporting events and makes it a great option for anyone focused on real-world prediction market trading.

The Kalshi promo code VIP60 provides eligible newcomers with $60 in trading credits after completing $25 in qualifying settled trades within seven days. 

Existing users can explore the Kalshi referral program  for additional rewards or compare the platform with other apps like Kalsh. New users who want a closer look at fees, features, market selection, and the overall trading experience can read our full Kalshi review.

Eligible newcomers can use the Polymarket promo code SIBONUS and deposit at least $10 to receive $25 in trading credits once the deposit settles. No initial qualifying trade is required to unlock the credits, but you can't withdraw the promotional balance directly. 

Polymarket’s appeal starts with sports variety. The U.S. platform covers the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, alongside soccer, tennis, golf and other competitions. That makes it worth comparing for New Yorkers who follow several leagues or want to move beyond the most prominent U.S. matchups without opening another account. It's also a leader in liquidity with millions of dollars traded on each NFL game every week. For the 2026 FIFA World Cup market, users generated over $4.3 billion in trading volume on Polymarket with roughly 194,000 active trading wallets. 

🗽 New York consideration: Use the U.S. product’s terms and eligibility rules, not assumptions about the separate international platform. New York’s September lawsuit also makes current account access an essential check.

For a closer look at fees, markets, features, and the overall trading experience, read our full Polymarket review. You can also compare other apps like Polymarket or learn how to earn extra rewards through the Polymarket referral code.

FanDuel Predicts does not offer sports markets in New York, but eligible users can trade contracts tied to stock indexes, commodities, cryptocurrency prices, and economic indicators. Its non-sports selection includes the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100, oil and gold prices, and reports measuring inflation and economic growth.

The platform uses straightforward Yes/No contracts, letting you predict a defined outcome instead of buying the underlying stock, commodity, or cryptocurrency. Prices can be displayed in cents, probabilities, or payout multipliers, giving users different ways to understand the cost and potential return before submitting an order.

You can also sell eligible positions before settlement when cash out is available. That provides flexibility when financial news or economic data changes your outlook, although execution depends on liquidity, and an early sale can lock in a profit or a loss.

Get started by claiming the FanDuel Predicts promo code today.

ProphetX’s main attraction is its sports-focused exchange, with live markets and coverage spanning football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and more. Its two- to 12-leg parlays let users request a price for eligible combinations instead of submitting every selection separately.

It's one of our best prediction market parlay sites, so New York fans following several teams can use it to compare multi-game positions across a busy sports schedule.

The ProphetX promo code SICOM unlocks $75 in incentive funds after $50 in qualifying settled trades. The reward arrives in three $25 installments over 14 days, with qualifying price and expiration requirements.

Beyond the welcome offer, Novig provides a sports-focused trading experience with game winners, spreads, totals, team totals, and player-stat markets. That gives football fans several ways to approach a Bills, Giants, or Jets matchup, whether they care about the result, the scoring margin, or an individual player’s performance. 

Recurring rewards help distinguish Novig from platforms built mainly around a one-time sign-up bonus. Eligible parlays, filled maker orders, live taker orders, and Daily Drop challenges can earn Novig Points. New York is included under its published eligibility policy, and users must be 21 or older and complete verification.

With the Novig promo code SIBONUS you can unlock a $50 bonus on day one.

Plus500’s main selling point is its straightforward fee structure: a 1-cent commission plus a 1-cent exchange fee per prediction contract. That provides a clear starting point when comparing the cost of several sports positions, although the lowest fee does not necessarily produce the best overall price. 

The Plus500 promo code SICOM gives eligible new users a $20 bonus after $10 in qualifying prediction trades settle. 

When comparing New York prediction markets, start with the sports and events you follow. Sports contracts are a major part of the selection, while broader platforms also cover elections, weather and economic developments. Check each app’s New York eligibility and available categories before trading.

🏈 Sports prediction markets

Sports markets can cover game winners, spreads, totals, player performances, championship futures, and awards. That gives you several ways to follow a matchup or take a longer-term position on a team’s season. The exact selection depends on the platform and competition. 

Sports coverage across the platforms in this guide can include:

• 🏈 Football: NFL games and futures, plus eligible college football markets.
• 🏀 Basketball: NBA, WNBA, and college basketball, with game, player, and season-long markets where listed.
• ⚾ Baseball: MLB game results, scoring markets, player outcomes and championship futures.
• 🏒 Hockey: NHL matchups, goal totals and longer-term team outcomes.
• ⚽ Soccer: MLS, international club competitions and tournament markets.
• 🎾 Tennis: ATP, WTA and ITF matches, alongside selected tournament outcomes.
• ⛳ Golf: Tournament winners, finishing positions and other event-specific contracts.
• 🥊 Combat sports: UFC and boxing outcomes when qualifying events are listed.
• 🎮 Other competitions: Selected esports, cricket, and additional sports on platforms with broader coverage.

For a New York-focused search, start with the teams you follow, whether that means the Bills, Knicks, Yankees, or Rangers, then compare the available contracts rather than assuming every app offers the same markets.

🗳️ New York election prediction markets

Election contracts let you follow state and congressional races alongside national political outcomes. Kalshi’s listings include the New York governor and attorney general elections, individual congressional districts, and control of Congress.

Read the question carefully before comparing prices. A contract on the winning party is not necessarily the same as one tied to a named candidate. Check the specified outcome, results source, and settlement deadline.

🌡️ NYC weather prediction markets

Weather markets turn local conditions into defined outcomes, such as whether New York City’s temperature reaches a particular threshold. Polymarket US’s NYC temperature contracts use Central Park’s KNYC station and the National Weather Service’s Daily Climate Report as their settlement reference. 

Always check the station, date, and measurement specified in the contract. The temperature shown on your phone or recorded in another neighborhood may not be the figure used to settle the claim.

🏙️ New York housing and local economic markets

Some markets track conditions closer to everyday life in the state. Kalshi lists contracts on NYC median asking rent and New York gasoline prices, providing alternatives to sports and political predictions.

These contracts depend on a defined dataset and observation period. Compare the selected threshold with the published measure—not your own rent payment or the price at a nearby gas station.

📊 National economic and financial markets

The selection extends beyond events happening inside New York. Economic contracts can cover Federal Reserve decisions, inflation, jobless claims, and economic growth, while broader platforms also offer crypto-related predictions.

Before trading, check the reporting period, threshold, and settlement source. Predicting the general direction of inflation differs from a contract asking whether a specific monthly figure clears a particular level.

Start with the teams you follow when exploring New York prediction markets. The franchises and college programs below provide a local guide to the sports calendar, from individual games to season-long storylines. Check each platform’s available contracts and New York eligibility before trading.

NFL

🦬 Buffalo Bills

Four consecutive Super Bowl appearances following the 1990 through 1993 seasons helped establish the Buffalo Bills' place in NFL history. Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, and Bruce Smith defined that era, giving Western New York a football identity distinct from the New York metropolitan area’s franchises. 

🔵 New York Giants

The New York Giants’ four Super Bowl championships span the 1986, 1990, 2007, and 2011 seasons. Although they carry the New York name, their home is MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which they share with the Jets. 

✈️ New York Jets

Joe Namath led the New York Jets to a 16-7 victory over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. That January 1969 result made the Jets the first AFL team to defeat an NFL opponent in the Super Bowl and remains a defining moment in franchise history. 

Explore our Kalshi NFL markets and Polymarket NFL markets guides for a closer look at football game contracts, player outcomes, and futures. Read our NFL prediction market apps page for more options.

NBA

🟠 New York Knicks

Madison Square Garden gives the New York Knicks a home in Manhattan. Their 1970 and 1973 championship teams featured Willis Reed and Walt Frazier, two central figures in the franchise’s basketball history.

⚫ Brooklyn Nets

The Nets moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn in 2012, beginning a new chapter at Barclays Center. Their Brooklyn home gives New York basketball fans a second NBA venue and a local alternative to the Knicks in Manhattan. 

Our Kalshi NBA markets and Polymarket NBA markets guides explain the available basketball selections. For a broader platform comparison, explore the best NBA prediction market apps.

MLB

⚾ New York Yankees

The New York Yankees have won 27 World Series championships and play at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Their Subway Series rivalry with the Mets brings a citywide storyline to the schedule, including a head-to-head World Series meeting in 2000. 

🔶 New York Mets

The New York Mets' 1969 and 1986 World Series victories are central to their history. Today, Citi Field in Queens is their home, while NL East matchups against teams like the Phillies and Braves provide divisional storylines throughout the season. 

NHL

🗽 New York Rangers

The New York Rangers are an Original Six franchise based in Manhattan, with home games at Madison Square Garden. Their 1994 Stanley Cup championship remains one of the arena’s defining sporting moments, linking the club’s history closely to New York City.

🏝️ New York Islanders

Long Island’s NHL club built a dynasty by winning four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980 through 1983. The Islanders now play at UBS Arena in Elmont, giving New York hockey fans another major venue outside Manhattan.

⚔️ Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1975 and 1999, establishing its own postseason hockey history. The Sabres have played at the arena now known as KeyBank Center since 1996, making it a longtime gathering place for Western New York fans.

College sports

Before trading college outcomes, confirm that the specific team and contract are available to your New York account. The programs below are teams to follow, not a guarantee that every platform offers their games.

🍊 Syracuse Orange

Syracuse basketball tradition includes the 2003 national championship, when Carmelo Anthony helped lead the Orange past Kansas. Its ACC schedule brings opponents like Duke and North Carolina to the JMA Wireless Dome, keeping Central New York connected to top college basketball matchups. 

🛡️ Army Black Knights

West Point’s Black Knights play at Michie Stadium, where they defeated Tulane to win the 2024 American Athletic Conference football championship. The annual Army-Navy game adds a separate rivalry storyline to the program’s schedule and military-academy identity. 

🐂 Buffalo Bulls

The University at Buffalo competes in Mid-American Conference football, providing a college counterpart to the region’s professional teams. November’s midweek MAC schedule gives the Bulls a different rhythm from the usual Saturday slate, with games spread across several weeknights. 

🔴 St. John’s Red Storm

Based in Queens, St. John’s brings a strong Big East basketball presence to New York City. The Red Storm won consecutive conference tournament titles in 2025 and 2026, and its home schedule includes games at both Madison Square Garden and Carnesecca Arena.

Here are some of the major games New York sports fans can follow from Oct. 23–29, 2026, spanning NFL Week 7, college football, and the NBA and NHL seasons. 

Friday’s schedule pairs the Knicks’ trip to Boston with Army’s visit to Tulsa, before Buffalo and Syracuse take the college football spotlight on Saturday. 

The Buffalo Bills have a Week 7 bye, leaving the Giants and Jets as the local NFL teams in action Sunday. Buffalo returns on Nov. 1 to host the Baltimore Ravens at 1 PM ET.

Sports prediction markets can include game winners, spreads, totals, player outcomes and season-long futures, depending on the platform and event. Check each app’s New York eligibility and actual market listings, particularly for college games; inclusion in this schedule does not guarantee that a corresponding contract is available to trade.

New York prediction markets let eligible users buy and sell positions on sports and other real-world events. Instead of waiting for a result, you can track changing contract prices and potentially sell before settlement, as long as trading remains open and enough buying interest is available. 

New York already has licensed online sportsbooks, so the appeal is a different trading experience—not a workaround for betting apps that aren't available. Broader prediction platforms also cover elections, weather, and economic developments alongside sports. 

Availability and legal status still need separate checks. New York has challenged several operators, while the CFTC maintains federal authority over regulated event contracts. Federal registration should not be treated as blanket approval for every platform or sports market in New York. 

Best prediction market platforms in New York

Here is how the platforms compare, including those that restrict New York sports trading.

Check the platform’s current location rules before depositing. An announced launch or publicly visible market does not guarantee that every account can place a trade.

For more detailed platform comparisons, explore these guides:

• Apps like Betr
• Apps like PredictIt
• Apps like PrizePicks
• Apps like Robinhood prediction market

Prediction markets vs. sportsbooks

For New Yorkers comparing prediction markets vs. sports betting, the main distinction is what happens after you enter a position. An exchange lets you attempt to buy or sell contracts at available market prices, while a sportsbook accepts a wager at its posted odds. 

Exchange mechanics and New York sportsbook rules operate under different frameworks; neither the available selections nor the ability to exit early is identical across every platform. 

Key takeaway: Choose a New York prediction platform based on the contracts you can actually access, the total trading costs, and the tools available to manage your position. Do not assume that downloading an app guarantees sports-market eligibility. Our prediction markets guide explains contract pricing, payouts, and the trading process in more detail.

If you're located outside of New York, you can view the following:

• California sports betting
• Florida sports betting
• Georgia sports betting
• Texas sports betting 

Prediction markets and other real-money gaming products involve financial risk, so set clear limits before you participate and never use money needed for everyday expenses.

• 💵 Set a budget: Decide how much you are comfortable risking and avoid exceeding that amount.
• 🚫 Don’t chase losses: Increasing your spending to recover previous losses can quickly create additional risk.
• ⏸️ Take breaks: Step away regularly, especially if trading or gaming becomes stressful or frustrating.
• 🛠️ Use available controls: Take advantage of deposit limits, account restrictions, cooling-off periods, or self-exclusion tools when available.
• 🧠 Know when to stop: Real-money gaming should not interfere with your finances, work, relationships, or well-being.

New Yorkers who are concerned about their gambling habits or those of someone they know can contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER for free, confidential support 24/7.