Prediction markets have exploded onto the sports betting scene, and the welcome offers are just as aggressive as anything you’ll find at a traditional sportsbook. Instead of odds and moneylines, platforms like Polymarket, Kalshi, Novig, ProphetX, and OG let you trade “yes” or “no” contracts on game outcomes through CFTC-regulated exchanges — and most are backing that up with deposit matches, trading bonuses, and fee-free credits to get new users in the door.
The timing makes sense given the category’s growth curve: combined monthly trading volume on Kalshi and Polymarket alone jumped from under $5 billion in September 2025 to roughly $53 billion by July 2026, with sports now the single largest trading category on both platforms. Every operator on this page knows new users have more choices than ever, which is exactly why the welcome offers keep getting more aggressive rather than less.
Below you’ll find a breakdown of what each prediction market is currently offering new users, along with the terms that actually matter before you sign up.
Polymarket’s welcome offer is the most straightforward of the bunch. Deposit at least $10 on the Polymarket US app and you’re credited a flat $50 trading bonus — no qualifying trade required. That’s a 5-to-1 return on your deposit before you’ve even placed a wager. The bonus posts automatically once your deposit clears, giving you $60 in total trading funds to use across sports, politics, and entertainment markets. Winnings from bonus-funded trades are withdrawable, and the offer typically expires 30 days after it’s credited.
Kalshi’s offer works differently — instead of a bonus for signing up, new users unlock bonus trading credits after completing $25 worth of qualifying trades within 30 days of registration. The exact bonus amount varies by promotional partner, but a $25 trading credit is the standard baseline once the requirement is met, with select promotions bumping that figure higher. Credits are non-withdrawable and must be used within seven days of being issued, though profits from trades placed with bonus credits can be withdrawn once you’ve traded through an equal amount.
Novig splits its welcome bonus into five separate $5 Trade Credits, rather than one lump sum, after a new user deposits at least $10. Each credit has to be applied in full to a single qualifying trade — no splitting or combining with other promos — and only trades priced at $0.60 or below are eligible. That gives new users five separate chances to test the platform’s peer-to-peer, no-vig pricing model. Trade credits expire 30 days after being issued, and Novig’s true no-vig format means the fee structure on those trades already beats traditional sportsbook vig.
ProphetX runs the largest headline bonus in the space, but it also has the biggest qualifying requirement. New users need to complete $50 in cumulative qualifying trades (all priced at $0.80 or lower) within 30 days of account approval. Once that threshold is hit, ProphetX pays out $75 in Incentive Funds across three $25 installments — one at the time of qualification, another seven days later, and the third after 14 days. Each installment has to be used in full before the next one unlocks, and every credit expires 45 days after it’s issued. It’s a slower rollout than the other operators, but the total payout is the richest on this list relative to the trade requirement.
OG, Crypto.com’s dedicated prediction markets platform, keeps things simple with a dollar-for-dollar match. Place and settle a $25 trade (priced below 80% probability) within seven days of account verification, and OG matches it with a $25 bonus. No promo code is required for the base offer — it applies automatically once you sign up and complete a qualifying trade. The bonus itself needs to be used within 30 days of being credited, and OG also advertises additional new-user reward milestones worth up to $100 total for bettors who keep trading beyond the initial offer.
Which prediction market has the best welcome offer?
By total payout, ProphetX’s $75 in Incentive Funds is the largest on this list, though it also requires the biggest cumulative trade volume ($50) to unlock. For the lowest barrier to entry, Polymarket’s flat $50 bonus on a $10 deposit with no qualifying trade required is the simplest to claim.
Do I have to trade sports specifically to qualify for these bonuses?
No — qualifying trades on most of these platforms can be placed on any available market (sports, politics, crypto, entertainment), not just sports contracts. Just make sure the trade’s probability falls under whatever cap the platform’s terms specify.
Are these bonuses taxed differently than sportsbook bonus bets?
Trading profits on prediction markets are generally treated as capital gains or ordinary income depending on your specific situation, which is a different tax framework than gambling winnings from a traditional sportsbook. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.
