FanDuel has introduced a new prediction market platform through a partnership with CME Group, marking its latest expansion beyond traditional sports wagering and casino products. The new standalone application, called FanDuel Predicts, has launched in five states—Alabama, Alaska, North Dakota, South Carolina, and South Dakota—with additional states scheduled to follow in a phased rollout through early 2026.
The platform represents a collaboration between FanDuel, part of Flutter Entertainment, and CME Group, the world’s leading derivatives marketplace. Together, the companies aim to provide users with a way to take positions on a wide range of real-world outcomes tied to finance, economics, culture, and sports. The launch arrives shortly after competing prediction market apps entered the U.S. market, increasing competition in a space that continues to draw regulatory scrutiny.
Initial Launch and Expansion Plans
FanDuel Predicts became available this week in its first five states, with the companies emphasizing a measured rollout strategy. The app is accessible through both the Apple App Store and Google Play and is available to users aged 18 and older in eligible jurisdictions.
James Cooper, Senior Vice President of Flywheel and New Ventures at FanDuel, said the early-stage launch will help shape future growth. “We’re giving our customers a new platform to engage with the world around them – whether that’s the next Fed rate decision or a sports event,” Cooper said in the official press release. “This launch in five states will provide valuable insights into customer engagement with this new platform, enabling us to refine our approach as we expand to additional states in 2026.”
While some competitors have pursued faster nationwide launches, FanDuel has opted to expand gradually. DraftKings Predictions and Fanatics Markets both rolled out to significantly more states shortly after their launches, adding pressure to an already crowded prediction market sector.
Markets Offered Across Finance and Sports
FanDuel Predicts allows users to buy and sell event-based contracts tied to financial benchmarks and economic indicators. These include markets based on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100, commodity prices such as oil, gas, and gold, cryptocurrencies, and macroeconomic measures including GDP and CPI.
Contracts are priced between $0.01 and $0.99 and are structured around binary outcomes. Users select “Yes” if they believe an event will occur or “No” if they believe it will not. The platform plans to offer these financial markets in all 50 states as the rollout continues.
Sports-related contracts will also be available, but only in states where online sports betting has not been legalized. These offerings cover baseball, basketball, football, and hockey and exclude tribal lands through geolocation technology. FanDuel has stated that if a state legalizes online sports betting, FanDuel Predicts will stop offering sports event contracts in that jurisdiction.
Lynne Fitzpatrick, President and Chief Financial Officer of CME Group, framed the partnership as an effort to reach new audiences. “CME Group prediction markets will enable a new generation of users to express their views on global benchmarks, economic indicators, sports and more,” Fitzpatrick said. “This launch is a pivotal step for expanding the reach of our products to FanDuel’s millions of registered users across the U.S.”
Account Verification and Consumer Safeguards
The FanDuel Predicts app uses FanDuel’s existing “Know Your Customer” process during registration. Users must submit personal information including their birth date, Social Security number, home address, banking details, and a government-issued ID. According to the companies, this verification process is intended to maintain platform integrity and user security.
FanDuel has also extended its responsible gaming tools to the new app. At launch, users can set deposit limits, receive deposit alerts, or self-exclude if needed. The platform also provides access to mental health services through Kindbridge Behavioral Health, mirroring safeguards available on FanDuel Sportsbook.
The prediction market sector continues to grow amid unresolved legal questions. Lawsuits addressing the overlap between sports-related prediction contracts and regulated sports betting are active in nearly a dozen states. At the same time, additional companies such as Kalshi, Crypto.com, and Polymarket are expanding or re-entering the U.S. market, adding further complexity to the regulatory landscape.
