Polymarket and Kalshi dominate the prediction market landscape, with 97% of all trading volume in the U.S. But they are not the only markets open to the public. Other niche market platforms are launching regularly, backed by the potential to dominate certain trading sectors.
Two well-known sports betting brands, DraftKings and FanDuel, are seeing the Big Two attack their sports betting market share and have responded by launching their own prediction apps. Neither is large in volume yet, but they are backed by the big, well-funded, and massive customer-list brand namesakes.
DraftKings Predictions has surged to a $3.1B annualized run rate in May, while FanDuel Predicts has recently deepened its exchange partnerships. These sports betting giants are leveraging massive user bases and polished apps to compete directly with faster-moving, more dynamic prediction-market platforms. As volumes climb, the rivalry centers on liquidity, market variety, and mobile experiences that can keep traders active around the clock.
DraftKings Predictions Deliver Strong May Growth in Event Contracts
DraftKings Predictions reached a $3.1B annualized total trading volume in May, up 34% month-over-month, while consumer volume hit $1.3B annualized. Launched in late 2025, the platform expands sports and finance-focused contracts inside the familiar DraftKings app. That’s not a small advantage for grabbing users, though mass adoption has yet to occur.
Executives at DraftKings credit their big month to the timing of the upgraded features for the NBA Finals and the upcoming World Cup. DraftKings has also invested heavily in proprietary market-making, delivering tighter spreads and stronger liquidity that appeal to high-volume traders. Shares of DraftKings rose following the disclosure, as investors noted the high-margin potential within its established user base.
But this good news for May comes amid a year that has seen a fairly material decline in their market cap, and at least one major bank analyst has expressed concern about DraftKings losing sports betting market share to Kalshi and Polymarket as timelines progress.
Monthly Volume Trends for DraftKings Predictions
| Month (2026) | Annualized Consumer Volume | Annualized Total Volume | MoM Growth (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | $725M | $1.6B | – |
| April | $1.0B | $2.3B | +44% |
| May | $1.3B | $3.1B | +34% |
FanDuel Predicts Strengthens Offerings Through Crypto.com Partnership
On their end, FanDuel Predicts added Crypto.com’s OG Prediction Markets as its second major exchange partner. The move expands access to sports, entertainment, and combo event contracts while complementing existing CME Group listings.
This FanDuel-OG Prediction Markets integration enables faster contract rollouts in line with CFTC-regulated standards and adds liquidity pools that tighten spreads for popular events. Traders will now have more flexibility to hedge or arbitrage correlated outcomes without leaving the FanDuel ecosystem. And that is the goal of every gaming platform, as it has been every casino since the dawn of time — keep ’em in the building.
Though Predicts revenues remain small relative to Flutter’s overall results, the aggressive partnership strategy signals a serious long-term commitment, especially with World Cup trading volume set to start in full force.
Watch DraftKings leadership outline strategies for scaling event contract trading amid rising competition.
Leveraging Scale and Market-Making to Compete
Both DraftKings and FanDuel are seeking to convert existing sports bettors into active event contract traders by integrating tools directly into apps where users already track teams and balances. DraftKings Predictions stands out for its in-app market-making, which reduces slippage during fast-moving events. FanDuel Predicts has countered by offering expanded combo contracts that let traders express nuanced views on interconnected outcomes.
This seamless “ecosystem” approach lowers barriers and drives higher trading frequency compared with dedicated standalone prediction market platforms. Both companies are also accelerating data partnerships and algorithmic recommendations to surface relevant contracts based on individual user behavior. Both of these companies have extensive user experience and customer preference data that their latter-day competitors do not.
Market-Making and Partnership Strategies
DraftKings actively provides liquidity through proprietary operations, drawing on its deep sports data expertise. Executives at DK believe the vertical can one day rank among global leaders. FanDuel Predicts takes a collaborative approach, layering multiple exchange backends, including the new Crypto.com integration, to increase liquidity without having to build every component in-house.
The Crypto.com partnership specifically targets heavy World Cup action on match outcomes, player props, and tournament milestones, helping stabilize pricing during peak periods.
Listen to DraftKings CEO Jason Robins share views on turning event contracts into a major growth driver.
Key Competitive Features Comparison
| Platform | Key Strength | Recent Development | Target Trader Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings Predictions | Market Making & App Integration | $3.1B Run Rate in May | Tighter Spreads, Seamless UX |
| FanDuel Predicts | Multi-Exchange Partnerships | Crypto.com Addition | Broader Market Variety & Combos |
Future Outlook as Competition Intensifies
With DraftKings demonstrating real volume traction and FanDuel broadening its offerings, pressure is rising on every platform to keep innovating. More so than you might expect based on the relative volume of these two new prediction apps. Their pedigrees, capitalization, and built-in customer base are not to be ignored.
Traders stand to benefit from better pricing, a broader selection of contracts, and improved trading tools. The coming months of major sporting events will reveal which strategies, relatively speaking, resonate most with the expanding community of event contract traders.
