You’re fired up for the Super Bowl. Snacks planned. Group chat buzzing. You download the DraftKings or FanDuel app… and hit a wall. No odds. No action.
If that’s happened to you, you’re not alone.
Why DraftKings and FanDuel aren’t available everywhere
Sports betting in the U.S. is still a patchwork. Each state decides whether online sportsbooks are legal, how they’re licensed, and where they can operate. Some states allow retail betting only. Others haven’t passed sports betting laws at all. And even if you live in a legal state, crossing a border or traveling for the Super Bowl can shut everything down thanks to geolocation checks.
- States with legal sports betting in 2026: AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, ME, MI, MO, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY
- States without legal sports betting in 2026: AL, AK, CA, GA, HI, ID, MN, MS, MT, NE, NM, ND, OK, SC, SD, TX, UT, WA, WI
That’s why someone flying into California or Texas for the game suddenly can’t place a bet, even if they’ve used DraftKings for years. Unfortunately, this is just how state-by-state gambling law works.
So what now?
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Legal ways to put money on the Super Bowl without sportsbooks
Here’s the thing: sports betting isn’t the only way to put money on the game.
Prediction markets have exploded over the last year, especially around major events like the Super Bowl. Platforms like Kalshi, Polymarket, FanDuel Predicts, and DraftKings Predictions let users trade on sports outcomes in a way that’s legally different from betting.
That difference matters.
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Betting vs. trading and why prediction markets are different
At a sportsbook, you’re betting against the house. The book sets the odds, builds in its edge, and locks you in until the final whistle.
Prediction markets work more like exchanges. You’re trading contracts with other users, not wagering against an operator. Each contract represents a simple outcome — yes or no — and the price reflects how likely the market thinks that outcome is. A contract priced at $0.68? The crowd thinks there’s roughly a 68% chance it happens.
You can buy, sell, or adjust positions before the event ends. It’s less about picking a side and praying, more about reacting to information as it breaks. Injury news. Weather. Momentum. All of it moves prices.
And because these platforms are regulated at the federal level, not state gambling commissions, they’re accessible in places where sportsbooks still aren’t.
Why Kalshi is the cleanest on-ramp for frustrated bettors
There are several prediction platforms out there, but Kalshi stands out for one simple reason: clarity.
Kalshi is federally regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and its markets are structured to be straightforward. You fund your account in USD. No crypto wallets. You click “yes” or “no,” choose how many contracts you want, and that’s it.
For the Super Bowl, that means markets on the winner, point margins, player milestones, and more. You’re not sneaking around the law. You’re using a platform built to operate where sportsbooks can’t.
Honestly, for fans stuck outside sportsbook states, Kalshi feels like the closest thing to normal betting without crossing any lines.
How to trade on the Super Bowl before kickoff
Signing up is refreshingly easy.
First, create an account using promo code COVERS for a free $10. Then verify your identity, fund it with a debit card or bank transfer, and you’re in. No need to wait for a state legislature to catch up. No need to wonder if your location will suddenly block you on game day.
From there, you can trade Super Bowl contracts the same way you’d approach a bet, just with more flexibility and fewer artificial limits.
Other ways to get money down on the Super Bowl
Another category available for the Super Bowl is social sportsbooks. These apps use virtual currencies or sweepstakes models instead of traditional wagering. For example, platforms like Novig let you trade custom bets against other users in a social betting exchange, often without a house edge and legal in dozens of states.
Other social options include Thrillzz, where you can make predictions on NFL outcomes using virtual coins and, in some cases, redeem sweepstakes coins for real prizes. These platforms don’t operate like a sportsbook, but they do let you engage with games, pick moneylines, spreads, and props in a fun, community-driven way.
You might also be familiar with Betr Picks, another social prediction app that rewards you with bonus entries and real value prizes when you make correct predictions. It’s free-to-play and still gives you skin in the game without traditional wagering.
The big picture
Prediction markets aren’t replacing sportsbooks. Not yet, anyway. But they’ve become the pressure valve for fans locked out of DraftKings and FanDuel by geography. And during weeks like the Super Bowl, that difference matters.
If you still want skin in the game, you have many options on Super Bowl Sunday.
