Prediction markets in District of Columbia
No prediction market venue treats District of Columbia differently from how it operates nationally, and no regulator action is on record here. Event contracts on a CFTC-designated exchange are regulated federally, so the national position applies.
Updated Oct 2, 2026 · each row links the source it rests on · not legal advice
Reviewed by Vardan Khachatryan · Oct 2, 2026
Which venues accept District of Columbia residents
| Venue | Status | Scope | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalshi | open | all | National position: Federally regulated as a CFTC designated contract market and offered nationwide rather than licensed state by state. |
| Polymarket | open | all | National position: Operates in the US as Polymarket US, run by QCX LLC, a CFTC-designated contract market since July 9, 2025. A November 24, 2025 amended order lets brokers (futures commission merchants) carry customer accounts on it. US users complete KYC and fund their accounts in dollars. |
| Robinhood | open | all | National position: Offers event contracts as an intermediary onto third-party CFTC-regulated exchanges (Kalshi and ForecastEx) rather than operating one itself, so its footprint largely follows theirs. |
| DraftKings | unknown | all | Offers event contracts through a third-party CFTC-regulated exchange, separately from its state-licensed sportsbook. Its state-by-state availability is not covered here; the app shows whether it is offered where you are. |
| FanDuel | unknown | all | Offers event contracts through a third-party CFTC-regulated exchange, separately from its state-licensed sportsbook. Its state-by-state availability is not covered here; the app shows whether it is offered where you are. |
Is each venue legal in District of Columbia?
Kalshi – available for all contracts under its national position. Nothing specific to District of Columbia is on record.
Polymarket – available for all contracts under its national position. Nothing specific to District of Columbia is on record.
Robinhood – available for all contracts under its national position. Nothing specific to District of Columbia is on record.
DraftKings – not covered state by state here. Offers event contracts through a third-party CFTC-regulated exchange, separately from its state-licensed sportsbook. Its state-by-state availability is not covered here; the app shows whether it is offered where you are.
FanDuel – not covered state by state here. Offers event contracts through a third-party CFTC-regulated exchange, separately from its state-licensed sportsbook. Its state-by-state availability is not covered here; the app shows whether it is offered where you are.
What the state has said
No regulator action or ruling on record for District of Columbia.
How this compares to state sports betting
Where a state allows sports betting, sportsbooks are licensed and taxed by that state; an event contract on a federal exchange is neither, which is the whole dispute. No state action against a venue is on record in District of Columbia. Whether a state may act at all is the question the appeals courts have split on. District of Columbia is outside the Third, Sixth and Ninth Circuits, the three appeals courts that have ruled. The question is unresolved there. The federal picture
Common questions
Can I use Kalshi in District of Columbia?
Yes. Kalshi operates nationally as a CFTC-designated contract market, and nothing specific to District of Columbia is on record.
Can I use Polymarket in District of Columbia?
Yes. Polymarket US is a CFTC-designated contract market, and nothing specific to District of Columbia is on record.
Are prediction markets legal in District of Columbia?
Event contracts on a CFTC-designated exchange are regulated federally as derivatives. No state action against a venue is on record in District of Columbia. District of Columbia is outside the Third, Sixth and Ninth Circuits, the three appeals courts that have ruled. The question is unresolved there.