Guest Contribution – Kalshi carries a large share of NFL event-contract trading, including more than $100 million on the 2026 season opener alone. It lists contracts on game winners, spreads, totals, player performance and season-long futures, all under federal oversight from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
It is not the only option. Several regulated platforms now list NFL event contracts, and they differ in how prices are displayed, how fees are charged, which states they serve and how combinations are built. This guide sets out four alternatives to Kalshi for the 2026 season, using the same criteria for each, so you can compare them on the points that affect your trading.
Why NFL Traders Compare Alternatives to Kalshi
NFL contracts now draw heavy volume across several regulated venues, not just one. That gives fans a reason to compare platforms before committing money for the season.
The practical differences usually come down to a few questions:
- Price display: Some platforms quote contracts in cents, others as percentages or payouts.
- Fees: Charges may be per contract, a percentage of the trade, or tied to the exchange that lists the contract.
- Availability: Each platform sets its own state list and minimum age, and some limit sports contracts in certain states.
- Combinations: Platforms differ in how many outcomes you can combine and how those combinations are priced.
How These Alternatives Were Compared
Each platform below is described against the same four points, using information published by the platform or reported by industry sources as of October 2026:
- NFL markets: the contract types listed for games and the season.
- Pricing and fees: how prices are shown and how trading is charged.
- Access: minimum age and state availability.
- Worth knowing: a practical limitation or feature to factor in.
Availability, fees and market lists change during the season, so confirm the current terms on each platform before trading.
1. Fanatics Markets
An alternative to Kalshi for fans who want NFL contracts shown as percentages and payouts rather than cents.
Part of the Fanatics ecosystem, Fanatics Markets offers event-based prediction markets on real-world outcomes across sports, politics, the economy, companies, crypto and culture, with a sports-first focus. It lists weekly NFL betting alternatives as event contracts on each game’s moneyline, spread and total. Each side shows a percentage price and the payout on a $100 position. The platform is registered with the CFTC and is a member of the NFA, offering contracts through Crypto.com | Derivatives North America, a CFTC-regulated exchange.
- NFL markets: Moneyline, spread and total contracts for each game, props, combos, and a separate futures collection for season-long outcomes.
- Pricing and fees: A per-contract trading fee that varies with the contract price. Combo prices come from liquidity providers through a request-for-quote process.
- Access: 21 and over, in 24 states plus four U.S. territories.
- Worth knowing: It serves fewer states than the other platforms in this guide, so check eligibility before funding an account.
2. Polymarket
An alternative to Kalshi for traders who build large NFL combinations.
Polymarket’s U.S. app connects users to Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, a CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization. Its NFL boards cover game outcomes and player markets, and its combo builder allows up to 32 legs in a single position. Prices are quoted in cents per contract.
- NFL markets: Game winners, spreads, totals, player props, season futures and combos.
- Pricing and fees: A trading fee of 0.75% at the 50/50 price point.
- Access: 18 and over, in all states except Nevada.
- Worth knowing: It does not issue U.S. tax forms for trading activity, so users track their own gains and losses.
3. FanDuel Predicts
An alternative to Kalshi for users who prefer a percentage-based fee and an app layout they already know.
FanDuel Predicts offers Yes/No event contracts with CME Group as its exchange partner. Positions can be exited before settlement on eligible contracts, and combination contracts let users join several outcomes. Its interface follows the FanDuel app.
- NFL markets: Yes/No contracts on NFL outcomes, including season win totals, plus combination contracts.
- Pricing and fees: A 2% fee at entry and on early exits, with no fee at settlement.
- Access: 18 and over, in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Worth knowing: Because the fee is a percentage of the trade, its cost relative to per-contract fees depends on the contract price.
4. DraftKings Predictions
An alternative to Kalshi for fans who want NFL player and team contracts on a sportsbook brand’s own exchange.
DraftKings Predictions moved more of its trading onto DKeX, its in-house exchange launched in June 2026 through Railbird Exchange. For the 2026 season it added contracts on NFL player and team performance, along with COMBOS, a feature more than half of its Predictions customers have used.
- NFL markets: Game contracts, player and team performance contracts, season awards and COMBOS.
- Pricing and fees: Fees depend on the exchange that lists the contract, such as $0.02 per contract per side on CME-listed markets.
- Access: 18 and over in most states (21 in some, including Massachusetts and Virginia), in 48 states, with sports contracts restricted in some of them.
- Worth knowing: DKeX trading volume is still light compared with the established prediction market exchanges.
How Kalshi Compares
Kalshi operates as a CFTC-regulated exchange and lists NFL game winners, spreads, totals, player markets, Combos and season futures for divisions, playoffs, the Super Bowl and awards. Contracts are priced between 1 and 99 cents, and trading carries a variable per-contract fee. Access is 18 and over in most U.S. states.
The alternatives above differ from Kalshi on specific points rather than across the board:
- Price display: One alternative shows percentages with a $100 payout, where Kalshi quotes cents.
- Fee model: FanDuel Predicts charges a percentage of the trade, and Polymarket’s fee is set as a percentage at the 50/50 price point.
- Combinations: Polymarket allows up to 32 legs, while Combo and COMBOS formats vary elsewhere.
- Exchange setup: DraftKings Predictions runs on its own exchange, and FanDuel Predicts partners with CME Group.
What to Check Before Trading NFL Contracts
Federal oversight does not settle every question about sports contracts, and availability can change during the season. Before funding any account, check these points:
- Eligibility: Confirm the minimum age and whether the platform serves your physical location, not just your home state.
- Settlement rules: Read which official result decides each contract and how postponed or cancelled games are handled.
- Total cost: Add trading fees, deposit fees and any withdrawal charges, not just the contract price.
- Exiting early: Selling before settlement depends on another participant taking the other side at an acceptable price.
- Limits: Set a budget you can afford to lose and use deposit limits or time reminders where offered, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty.
Conclusion
Kalshi remains a common starting point for NFL event contracts, but it is one of several regulated options for the 2026 season. The alternatives in this guide differ in price display, fee structure, state coverage and how combinations work. Compare those points against where you live, how you like to trade and what you are prepared to pay, then confirm current terms directly with the platform before committing money.
FAQ
How do NFL event contracts differ from sportsbook wagers?
A sportsbook sets the odds and takes the other side of a wager. An event contract trades on an exchange, with another participant or market maker on the other side, and pays a set amount if the outcome occurs.
Does a contract price show the chance of an outcome?
A price reflects what traders are paying at that moment. Because quotes can include a spread, the two sides of a market may add up to slightly more than 100%.
Can I use more than one of these platforms?
Yes, where you are eligible for each. Many users compare prices, fees and market availability across platforms before placing a trade.
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