Esports has become one of the fastest-growing categories on US prediction markets. In the first week of June 2026, Kalshi's esports contracts traded about $36 million in contract volume across 408 matches — roughly $5 million a day — with CS2 taking about two-thirds.[1] Contract volume isn't money at risk: many contracts trade at low prices. Polymarket has moved into esports too, becoming BLAST's official prediction partner for CS2 and Dota 2 events in 2026; esports media have reported single League of Legends series trading in the tens of millions of dollars.[2]
Why it's happening
- Federally regulated prediction markets can list esports in states where sportsbooks don't offer them.
- Esports fans are young, online and comfortable with exchange-style trading.
- Polymarket signed an official partnership with tournament organiser BLAST.
Volume figures count $1 contracts, many at low prices, so the money at risk is smaller than headline numbers — and Polymarket has accused Kalshi of double-counting some esports volume, which Kalshi disputes.
See our Polymarket esports review and esports event contracts.
Sources
- CS2 drives bulk of $36 million esports volume last week on Kalshi — Esports Insider, June 2026 ↩
- Polymarket enters esports with BLAST partnership — SiGMA News ↩
