By PredictQ Team // Updated: July 2026
Ten minutes, start to first trade. That’s the realistic timeline for a brand-new DraftKings Predictions account, including identity verification. If you already have a DraftKings account for Sportsbook, DFS, Casino, or Pick6, it’s closer to two minutes, because the same credentials work everywhere and you’re just activating the Predictions section.
Below is the full flow, plus how to trigger the Spend $5, Get $25 welcome offer and what to expect from state eligibility.
What You’ll Need
- A device: iOS, Android, or a desktop browser. Predictions added web trading in 2026, so a phone is no longer required.
- A valid email address and a phone number that receives SMS
- Government-issued photo ID (driver’s license or passport)
- The last four digits of your Social Security Number
- A funding source: debit card, ACH, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, or PayNearMe for cash. Credit cards don’t work; DraftKings dropped them across all products in 2025.
- You must be 18+ (19 or 21 in some states) and physically located in an eligible state
Step 1: Start the Sign-Up
Click HERE to begin. Bonus tracking attaches automatically; there’s no promo code to remember.
Existing DraftKings customers: skip ahead to the eligibility step. Your account, KYC, and payment methods carry over.
Step 2: Pick Your Entry Point
Two doors into the same product. The standalone DraftKings Predictions app is event contracts only, and it’s the cleaner choice if predictions are all you’re there for. The unified DraftKings: Sports & Casino app houses Predictions alongside Sportsbook, DFS, Casino, and Pick6, with a product switcher in the menu. Desktop web works too.
Step 3: Create the Account
Standard brokerage-style registration: legal name, email, password, date of birth, home address, phone number, and the last four of your SSN. The SSN ask throws some people, but it’s required for any CFTC-regulated product that pays out real money. Kalshi, Polymarket US, and FanDuel Predicts all ask for the same thing.
Step 4: Verify Contact Info
DraftKings sends an SMS code and an email confirmation link. Knock out both. Turn on two-factor authentication while you’re in there.
Step 5: Upload Your ID
Photograph your driver’s license or passport with all four corners visible, decent lighting, no glare. You may get a liveness selfie check. Most verifications clear in minutes.
Step 6: Check What Your State Gets
This is where DraftKings Predictions differs from every other platform, so slow down here.
Sports event contracts are available in 18 states, and only where DraftKings Sportsbook does not operate. California, Texas, Florida, and Georgia are all included, which is exactly the point: those are the biggest states with no legal online sportsbook.
If you’re in a state with a licensed DraftKings Sportsbook (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and most other legal betting states), Predictions shows you non-sports markets only: economics, finance, crypto, commodities. And if you’re in Maine or New Hampshire, the platform is unavailable entirely.
You don’t have to memorize any of this. The app geolocates you and displays only what you can legally trade. Just don’t be surprised when NFL markets are missing in a sportsbook state; that’s policy, and no VPN gymnastics will change it (geolocation is enforced, and circumventing it violates the terms).
Step 7: Deposit
Minimum deposits run about $5–$10 depending on method. Debit, PayPal, Venmo, and Apple Pay land instantly. ACH is free but can take 1–3 business days at some banks. PayNearMe covers cash deposits at participating retailers. Deposit at least $5 if you want the welcome offer.
Step 8: Trigger the Welcome Offer
The current offer is Spend $5, Get $25 Instantly in Predictions Dollars. Deposit $5+, place $5+ in trades, and the $25 credits immediately. No code, no opt-in maze, no waiting period. The Predictions Dollars expire one year from issuance, so put them to work.
Step 9: Place a First Trade
Browse the tabs: sports (in eligible states), economics, stocks, crypto, commodities. Pick a market, tap the side you want, and enter a stake. Prices display as American odds by default, with the contract price underneath. The app converts your dollar stake into contracts and shows the payout if you win, fees included.
Two mechanics to know before you confirm. DraftKings Predictions supports market orders only, so you get the displayed price, full stop. And fees are $0.01–$0.02 per contract depending on price, charged when you trade, with nothing charged at settlement.
Step 10: Manage Positions
The Trades section shows open positions marked to current prices, settled positions with realized P&L, and your Predictions Dollars balance. You can sell most positions before resolution at the going market price, liquidity permitting. That early-exit ability is the single biggest difference between event contracts and a sportsbook bet slip, and it’s worth practicing on a small position early.
Step 11: Lock the Account Down
Enable two-factor if you skipped it, set deposit limits if you want guardrails, and scan the Rewards page for active promotions beyond the welcome offer.
After Setup
You now have event contract access in whatever your state allows, one login that spans every DraftKings product, $25 in Predictions Dollars if you cleared the $5 thresholds, and a referral program that pays for bringing friends in.
The whole process is easier than opening a brokerage account and only slightly harder than making a sportsbook account. If you haven’t started yet, sign up HERE and be trading inside of ten minutes.
Disclosures: PredictQ may receive compensation when readers sign up for platforms through links on this page. Information accurate as of July 2026. DraftKings Predictions is operated by GUS III LLC, a CFTC-registered Introducing Broker; contracts trade on DKeX, DraftKings’ CFTC-licensed exchange. Trading event contracts involves significant risk and is not appropriate for all participants. This content is for informational purposes only. Must be 18 or older (19 or 21 in some states). If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.