Prediction Exchanges Took 27% of Legal Sports Bets in the U.S. During the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup noticeably changed the balance of power in the U.S. betting market. Prediction exchanges accounted for around 27% of all legal sports betting volume in the U.S.
For comparison, at the beginning of 2026 their share was estimated at around 9%. In other words, in just a few months this segment tripled, and the World Cup became its main accelerator.
Kalshi remains the largest player. During the tournament, the platform broke its own trading-volume records several times, and its mobile app, according to Apptopia, attracted more daily users than the DraftKings and FanDuel apps.
This is especially telling, since DraftKings and FanDuel have been considered the leading forces in U.S. online betting for many years. Prediction exchanges can no longer be viewed as a niche product for a small audience.
Bernstein analyst Ian Moore believes this growth will push traditional sportsbooks to launch similar services. In his view, for the market this is not only a threat to the usual model but also a new opportunity for the entire industry.
The question now is whether this share will hold after the tournament ends. Interest in predictions rises sharply during major football tournaments, but retaining the audience without daily matches will be more difficult. Even so, 27% is already too large a figure for sportsbooks to ignore.
Ryan Mitchell is the esports manager at CasinosInCanada who covers competitive gaming events, esports tournaments, and industry trends.
