Just ahead of the Super Bowl, DraftKings Predictions is now offering contracts on player-specific events in the NFL and NBA, thanks to a partnership with Crypto.com, the Boston-based gaming company announced Friday.
The deal enables DraftKings to offer these markets in states like California, Georgia, and Texas, where sports betting remains restricted. It also opens the door to other prediction market categories, including political and entertainment events, regulated federally by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
“By leveraging our expertise in sports and technology and integrating additional CFTC-regulated exchanges like Crypto.com, we’re expanding customer access to trade on sports and a broader range of prediction markets,” said Jeanine Hightower-Sellitto, SVP and GM of DraftKings Predictions.
Broadening Sports Coverage
Previously, DraftKings Predictions focused on point spreads, totals, and event winners. Crypto.com is the latest partner joining DraftKings’ prediction market ecosystem, which also includes CME Group. DraftKings’ October acquisition of Railbird Exchange will further expand its offerings in the near future.
How Prediction Markets Differ from Sportsbooks
Prediction markets function like sportsbooks but require traders to take both sides of a contract. For example, a contract on a New England Patriots quarterback scoring a touchdown depends on another trader betting the opposite outcome. Unlike sportsbooks, the platform itself does not assume risk—market makers establish contract prices. DraftKings CEO Jason Robins confirmed the company is also setting up its own market maker to support these exchanges.
Regulatory and Legal Landscape
While CFTC regulation supports these markets, several states—including Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, and New Jersey—have challenged prediction market offerings tied to sports. Federal law historically restricts gaming-related markets, meaning the legality of sports-linked prediction markets could ultimately be decided by Congress or the U.S. Supreme Court, possibly as late as 2027 or beyond.
“Prediction markets are a great way to meet consumer demand,” Robins told Bloomberg, emphasizing DraftKings’ excitement in rolling out player-specific Super Bowl markets.
