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Prediction Markets in Washington DC

Status as of October 3, 2026: Available. What the courts and the state have done, with dated sources.

Catie Di Stefano By , Founder, PredictionRanks · Updated

Quick Verdict: Available

Kalshi, Polymarket US, ProphetX, OG and Novig: Available. No court ruling or state enforcement action on prediction markets in the District of Columbia was found in the legal timeline (absence is not proof).

Nationally: Federal appeals courts are split on sports event contracts, all at the preliminary-injunction stage: the Third Circuit sided with Kalshi (Apr 6, 2026), the Ninth (Aug 28, 2026) and Sixth (Sep 25, 2026) sided with the states, and three Supreme Court petitions (Nos. 26-299, 26-338, 26-344) are pending; none has been granted.

  • Status (as of October 3, 2026): Kalshi, Polymarket US, ProphetX, OG and Novig: Available.
  • Why: No court ruling or state enforcement action on prediction markets in the District of Columbia was found in the legal timeline (absence is not proof).
  • Welcome offers that apply to District of Columbia residents (partner terms of Oct 1, 2026): Kalshi, Polymarket US, ProphetX, OG, Novig, Rebet.
  • Age: Kalshi, Polymarket US, OG and Rebet set 18 as the minimum (ProphetX: 18 or the local age of majority if higher); Novig sets 21. We recommend 21+.
  • Status describes whether each platform accepts District of Columbia residents, not whether trading is legal. We do not give legal advice.

DC's Sports Betting Framework

DC legalized sports betting via the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018, signed by Mayor Muriel Bowser in January 2019. The law authorized the DC Lottery to operate a citywide mobile sportsbook (GambetDC, powered by Intralot) and licensed retail sportsbooks at major DC sports venues.

GambetDC launched in May 2020 as the only legal mobile sports betting option across most of DC (with retail sportsbooks operating in geofenced zones around Capital One Arena, Audi Field, and Nationals Park). The platform was widely criticized for poor odds, limited markets, and a frustrating user experience, and consistently underperformed projected revenue.

In 2024, the DC Council overhauled the system. The GambetDC contract was terminated, and FanDuel was awarded an exclusive citywide mobile sports betting license under a new operator framework. FanDuel Mobile launched citywide in DC in April 2024, immediately becoming the dominant licensed sports betting platform. Caesars (Capital One Arena), Fanatics (Audi Field), and BetMGM (Nationals Park) continue to operate retail sportsbooks at their respective venues.

What DC Residents Can Trade in 2026

Full federal prediction market catalog is accessible to DC residents 18+:

  • NFL contracts — Washington Commanders drive heavy DC-resident engagement, particularly during division games against the Cowboys, Eagles, and Giants
  • NBA contracts — Washington Wizards plus Capital One Arena's role as a major NBA venue
  • NHL — Washington Capitals (Stanley Cup contender)
  • MLB — Washington Nationals (2019 World Series champions, ongoing rebuild)
  • MLS — DC United (Audi Field)
  • NCAA — Georgetown Hoyas basketball, Howard University football and basketball, plus full Big East and MEAC coverage
  • Politics — the highest-volume political market category in the country. DC residents have first-mover engagement on every Congressional vote, every Cabinet confirmation, every Supreme Court↗ (opens in a new tab) nomination, every election outcome.

Best Platforms for Washington DC Residents

OG.com is our top pick for DC overall in 2026. Crypto.com's CFTC-regulated sports-first prediction market combines a 4-leg parlay builder, social trading feed, and live in-game contracts — and new traders can trade $25 and get $50 in rewards with code RANKPREDICTS. Kalshi remains a strong runner-up for the deepest non-sports catalog and lowest published fees.

Polymarket US is essentially co-equal with Kalshi for DC residents, given Polymarket's political-contract dominance. For long-tail political markets (specific Cabinet picks, Supreme Court↗ (opens in a new tab) vacancies, individual congressional races), Polymarket often has equal or deeper liquidity than Kalshi.

Robinhood provides Kalshi-routed contracts inside the familiar Robinhood app — useful for DC residents who already use Robinhood for equities.

DraftKings Predictions and FanDuel Predicts are interesting in DC because FanDuel also operates the exclusive citywide licensed mobile sportsbook. FanDuel users can keep one account for traditional bets via FanDuel Mobile and a second FanDuel Predicts account for combo contracts and longer-dated futures with the same KYC.

How DC Compares to Surrounding Jurisdictions

  • Maryland: Kalshi, Polymarket US, ProphetX and Novig available, dispute pending; OG not offered (as of October 3, 2026)
  • Virginia: Available (as of October 3, 2026)

Tax Considerations for DC Residents

DC has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 10.75% (the highest top municipal rate in the United States, applied to high-income DC residents). Net gains from prediction market trading are taxable at federal level plus the DC rate. Kalshi provides a profit-and-loss statement for your trades; platforms' 1099s mainly cover interest, rewards and crypto transfers.

DC residents who use both FanDuel Mobile (W-2G reporting on qualifying wins) and prediction markets (platform profit-and-loss statements) should track each separately. DC's high top marginal rate makes tax-aware position sizing more impactful for high-income DC traders than in lower-tax jurisdictions.

What could change the status

Dates we are watching: Nevada's responses to the Robinhood and Crypto.com Supreme Court petitions are now due November 13 and 16, 2026 (both extended in October), and Kalshi's response to New Jersey's petition is due November 9, 2026 (deadlines can be extended); the earliest the Supreme Court could act on the petitions is a conference in December 2026 or January 2027 (our estimate, not a scheduled date). We re-check this page when any of these happen and log the change above.

Best Platforms Compared

Platform

Score

Promo

Action

Polymarket US

A global prediction market, now a CFTC-regulated US app that trades in dollars

95

See current offer →

Claim $25 bonus (opens in a new tab)

Kalshi

The gold standard for regulated US event contracts

94

Trade $25, get $25 — code RANKPREDICTS

Claim $25 credit (opens in a new tab)

Robinhood

The easiest entry point for US retail traders

88

See current offer →

Try Kalshi instead (opens in a new tab)

DraftKings Predictions

Sports-first prediction markets from America's leading sportsbook

82

See current offer →

Try Kalshi instead (opens in a new tab)

FanDuel Predicts

FanDuel's federal play for the prediction markets era

80

See current offer →

Try Kalshi instead (opens in a new tab)

Status in District of Columbia as of October 3, 2026

PlatformStatusWhy (source)Welcome offer in District of Columbia
KalshiAvailableKalshi accepts D.C. residents; no court ruling or state enforcement action on prediction markets in the District of Columbia was found in our legal timeline. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Trade $25 and Get $25!
Polymarket USAvailablePolymarket US accepts D.C. residents; no court ruling or state enforcement action on prediction markets in the District of Columbia was found in our legal timeline. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Deposit $10 get a $25 Trading Bonus!
ProphetXAvailableProphetX accepts D.C. residents; no court ruling or state enforcement action on prediction markets in the District of Columbia was found in our legal timeline. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Trade $50, Earn $75!
OG (by Crypto.com)AvailableOG accepts D.C. residents; no court ruling or state enforcement action on prediction markets in the District of Columbia was found in our legal timeline. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Trade $25 Get $50 in Rewards! (New users only)
NovigAvailableNovig accepts D.C. residents; no court ruling or state enforcement action on prediction markets in the District of Columbia was found in our legal timeline. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Deposit $10 Get $50 in Trade Credits!
RebetAvailableRebet is a sweepstakes app, not a CFTC-regulated exchange; its sweepstakes rules include District of Columbia. (source (opens in a new tab))Valid: Get a 100% purchase match up to $100!

What changed (newest first)

_No District of Columbia-specific entry is in the legal timeline; the list shows the federal rulings and Supreme Court petitions that shape the national picture._

Prediction markets in other states

§ References & Sources

  1. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) (opens in a new tab)— U.S. federal regulator
  2. CFTC Designated Contract Markets list (opens in a new tab)— CFTC
  3. 26 U.S. Code § 1256 — Section 1256 contracts marked to market (opens in a new tab)— Cornell Law / U.S. Code
  4. IRS Form 6781 — Gains and Losses From Section 1256 Contracts (opens in a new tab)— Internal Revenue Service
  5. National Council on Problem Gambling — 1-800-GAMBLER (opens in a new tab)— NCPG

Frequently asked questions

Are prediction markets legal in District of Columbia?

We don't give legal verdicts, but here is the status as of October 3, 2026: Kalshi, Polymarket US, ProphetX, OG and Novig: Available. No court ruling or state enforcement action on prediction markets in the District of Columbia was found in the legal timeline (absence is not proof). Nationally, federal appeals courts are split on sports event contracts, all at the preliminary-injunction stage, and three Supreme Court petitions are pending; none has been granted.

Can I use Kalshi in District of Columbia?

Status as of October 3, 2026: Available. Kalshi accepts D.C. residents; no court ruling or state enforcement action on prediction markets in the District of Columbia was found in our legal timeline. Kalshi's welcome offer (Trade $25 and Get $25!) applies to District of Columbia residents. Kalshi's minimum age is 18; we recommend 21+.

Has District of Columbia taken action against prediction markets?

Our legal timeline has no court ruling or state enforcement action on prediction markets in District of Columbia (that is not proof none exists). No federal appeals court covering District of Columbia has ruled on sports event contracts.

What could change the status in District of Columbia?

Dates we are watching: Nevada's responses to the Robinhood and Crypto.com Supreme Court petitions are now due November 13 and 16, 2026 (both extended in October), and Kalshi's response to New Jersey's petition is due November 9, 2026 (deadlines can be extended); the earliest the Supreme Court could act on the petitions is a conference in December 2026 or January 2027 (our estimate, not a scheduled date). We re-check this page when any of these happen and log the change above.

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