Plus500 Brings Sports Prediction Markets To Retail Traders With CFTC-Regulated Contracts

Plus500 has launched sports event-based contracts on its proprietary futures trading platform, giving US retail customers access to regulated prediction markets. The contracts, listed by Kalshi and overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), cover major US sports leagues including the NFL, NBA, and MLB.

The offering marks a further step in Plus500’s push to diversify beyond its traditional CFD business. Unlike conventional sports betting, users trade exchange-listed financial derivatives that settle based on game outcomes, all within the CFTC’s regulatory framework. The company says it combines its proprietary trading technology with institutional clearing and risk management capabilities.

David Zruia, Chief Executive Officer of Plus500, said the launch demonstrates how the firm’s infrastructure can support new categories of exchange-traded products. “Today marks an important milestone … the launch of sports event-based contracts … is the direct result of our technological capabilities and the infrastructure we have built,” he stated, adding that sports represent one of the most engaging and fast-moving spaces in financial markets today.

The move follows Plus500’s earlier introduction of prediction markets covering macroeconomic, financial and geopolitical events earlier this year, also in partnership with Kalshi. The company has also rolled out 24/5 CFD trading on selected stocks and ETFs as part of its broader strategy to expand beyond leveraged trading products.

Growing Regulatory Uncertainty

The prediction markets sector remains under close regulatory scrutiny. Several US states have challenged sports event contracts, arguing they resemble sports betting rather than derivatives, while the CFTC maintains its exclusive jurisdiction over federally regulated exchanges. Courts have issued mixed rulings, creating an ongoing legal debate over where financial regulation ends and gambling regulation begins.

Despite the uncertainty, major brokers such as Interactive Brokers, Robinhood and Webull have embraced prediction markets. Industry estimates suggest global prediction markets generated roughly $47 billion in trading volume during 2025, accelerating further this year. Kalshi’s trading volumes have surged, and the company is reportedly in talks to raise capital at a valuation of approximately $40 billion.

For Plus500, the expansion reduces its reliance on CFD trading while increasing its presence in regulated US markets. The company has steadily invested in futures, options, prediction markets and institutional clearing to build a multi-asset business serving both retail traders and financial institutions.