What are prediction market sites?
In a nutshell, prediction sites are trading platforms where you can buy and sell contracts on future events. Primarily, most prediction platforms allow you to trade in the form of binary outcomes (Yes or No). Contracts generally range from $0 to $0.99, with champion positions settled at $1 and losing contracts settled at $0.
It is important to remember that the value of each contract is determined by the likelihood of what other traders believe the outcome of an event will be. The higher the probability, the more likely it is that the traders believe a certain event will occur.
When trading on reputable platforms, market volume plays a crucial role, and the more liquidity in a market, the easier it is to buy and sell contracts. Since prediction markets provide trading on real-world events, you are also allowed to close your position early, before the event concludes. Provided another trader is willing to buy your contract, you are allowed to settle early to take out your profits or mitigate your losses.
Overview of prediction market sports trading
As I mentioned earlier, while there are several future event contracts available, including election results and climate forecasts, sports predictions are among the most popular future events. You will find sports contracts on most prediction sites. For example, Polymarket sports predictions cover a wide range of sports contracts, including game outcomes and award predictions for top athletes in an event.
Before I can detail some of the main sports contracts, below is a brief example of how to read a sports trading contract:
Let’s say the Oklahoma City Thunder are trading at $0.75 to get the NBA Finals. This means that traders believe there is a 75% chance that the Thunder will be the best one in the NBA Championship. If you also believe that the Thunder will be the first ones in the Championship, you can purchase the Yes contract for that certain outcome at $0.75.
If you buy a Yes position for $100, you will receive 133.33 contracts ($100/0.75). If the Thunder goes on to be the champion in the Finals, you can potentially get more, minus any applicable trading fees. However, if the Thunder loses at any in the playoffs, your contract will be settled at $0, and you will lose your initial $100 investment. There’s no consolation even if they make it past the first round, the semis, or even the Western Conference Finals if they end up losing in the Finals.
When trading sports outcomes, you can buy and sell contracts on various sports leagues and tournaments. Some of the major sports contracts you will find on prediction sites include the NFL, NBA, and MLB Championship, the Super Bowl and NBA Finals MVPs.
The table below details some of the available sports contracts and examples of what you can trade:
| Sports contract options | Contract explanation | Contract example |
|---|---|---|
| Game champions | Buy and sell positions on which team will secure a first position in a specific match | Who will secure the first place in the EPL clash between Arsenal and Liverpool? |
| Props | Trade positions on game and player props for a specific event | Will Luka Doncic have over 10.5 rebounds against the Dallas Mavericks? |
| Futures | Purchase positions on which team will will secure a first position in a tournament or a major league | Which team will secure first place in the 2027 Super Bowl? |
| Awards | Predict which player will be the first as the MVP of the tournament | Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander be crowned the 2026 NBA Finals MVP? |
| Drafts | Buy and sell contracts on which rookies will be drafted for the upcoming season | Who will be the #1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft? |
How to find the best prediction market platforms for sports trading
When searching for the best sports prediction websites to use, you should evaluate several core features, including availability, bonuses and promotions, types of futures contracts, customer support, and mobile trading platforms.
- Availability - You should only use platforms that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulates, as these prediction markets operate a regulated exchange and serve as Designated Contract Markets.
- Bonuses and promotions - The top sites will welcome new traders with exclusive trading bonuses, and there are rewards for existing traders, such as loyalty incentives.
- Diverse sports contracts - For the best trading experience, there should be multiple sports contracts available, including on all major tournaments and leagues like the NFL and NHL. Double-check that you can buy and sell positions for Championship conquerors and player awards.
- Responsive support - If you have any questions, there should be a way to contact the support team via live chat, email, and an FAQ page. Test the available options, and check whether the agents are friendly and knowledgeable.
- Mobile platforms - Many users prefer to trade on the go with their mobile devices. Therefore, the top platforms should offer a mobile trading option with either a dedicated trading app, a mobile-optimized website, or a combination of both.
Tips when buying and selling sports positions on the best prediction sites
Trading sports contracts is interesting, but it is also important that you maximize your experience. If you are looking for some tips when buying and selling sports positions on the top prediction sites, remember the following:
- Always do your research before purchasing a position. Check team and player news and stay updated on the latest details of the specific real-world event.
- If there is sufficient market volume for an event, such as the Super Bowl, then it is a good idea to sell your contracts early to lock in profits or mitigate losses.
- Diarize the relevant trading fees before making sports trades, and factor all of these when working out the potential value of your contracts.
- Try to use prediction sites that cater to both long-term sports events and in-play sports contracts. For example, Kalshi sports predictions cover both pre-match and in-running options, which allow you to buy and sell contracts while the real-world event is ongoing.
- Keep an eye out for the latest bonuses and promotions so that you can receive trading rewards for your sports positions. Most prediction sites have introduced signing-up rewards for new users, while some also provide existing trader perks, such as volume incentive rewards if you trade a high volume of sports contracts.
Pros and cons: Prediction sites for sports trading
Pros
- Pre-match and in-running sports contracts
- Diverse sports future event options
- Can close positions early
Cons
- Trading fees are incurred for some contracts
Verdict - You can buy and sell sports positions on the best prediction market sites
Trading on sports outcomes is simple and enjoyable when using legitimate prediction market sites. However, you must do your research in advance to understand how the trading process works and whether there are any trading fees. I have walked you through the sports trading process on prediction sites, and as you can see, there is plenty of variety in buying and selling contracts on real-world sporting events.
If you are interested in trading sports contracts on prediction sites, then browse the banners on this page to find trusted platforms to use. Once you have found an available option, click the banner to access the prediction market, complete the sign-up process, and then start buying and selling contracts on sports events, such as the NFL, NBA, and FIFA World Cup.
