Could Bet365 Be the Next Sportsbook to Enter Prediction Markets?
As extra sportsbook operators transfer into prediction markets, considered one of the subsequent questions is which firm might comply with FanDuel, DraftKings and Fanatics into the U.S. occasion contract-trading enterprise. Bet365 has emerged as a pure candidate.
The international sportsbook operator has develop into considered one of the extra credible second-tier challengers in U.S. sports activities betting, and final week launched bet365 Fantasy Sports, a free-to-play mobile game accessible to customers 18 and older throughout the U.S. and Canada, excluding Washington state.
The product, developed with LOW6, blends fantasy sports activities with collectible participant packs, leaderboards and real-world participant statistics, with bet365 framing the launch round the 2026 World Cup. That offers bet365 one thing it has not had by means of sports activities betting alone, a nationwide sports-facing product accessible properly past the states the place its sportsbook is licensed. FanDuel and DraftKings have each pointed to that very same national-reach logic as a part of the attraction of prediction markets, which may supply sports activities merchandise in states that haven’t legalized on-line sports activities betting.
Their current transfer spurs the query, will bet365 check the prediction market waters? For now, the reply seems to be, “Not but.” Bet365 is concentrated on its core on-line betting product and doesn’t at the moment have plans to supply occasion contracts in the U.S., an individual accustomed to bet365’s U.S. plans informed DeFi Rate. But that path has not fully been dominated out. The firm is watching the prediction market house and assessing its strategy over time, in accordance to our supply.
Bet365 has develop into a reputable U.S. challenger in sports activities betting
Bet365’s U.S. enlargement has been extra selective than the all-out nationwide push utilized by some rivals, however the firm has grown into considered one of the high sportsbooks in the nation behind the dominant FanDuel and DraftKings.
The bet365 sportsbook is now dwell in 17 states, together with Michigan, the place it launched in April. Michigan additionally expanded bet365’s on-line on line casino footprint, making it the firm’s third iGaming state after New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The outcomes of its strategic enlargement have put bet365 close to the entrance of the second tier of U.S. sportsbook operators. Sports Business Journal reported in April that bet365 ranked sixth by deal with throughout the 15 jurisdictions that publicly report operator-level outcomes, with a 4% nationwide share primarily based on January figures. In states the place bet365 was dwell and operator-level information was accessible, its share rose to 6%.
Ohio exhibits why bet365 is taken significantly in that second tier. The firm has persistently trailed solely FanDuel and DraftKings in considered one of the nation’s best on-line sports activities betting markets, and state figures for 2026 confirmed bet365 forward of Fanatics, BetMGM, Caesars, Penn Interactive’s theScore Bet and BetRivers by on-line gross receipts by means of April.
Sportsbooks are splitting over prediction markets
Bet365’s subsequent U.S. transfer is price watching as a result of different sportsbook operators have already began selecting sides on prediction markets.
The clearest strikes have come from the high of the market. FanDuel has partnered with CME Group on FanDuel Predicts, whereas DraftKings launched DraftKings Predictions by means of outdoors trade companions and has since began routing some contracts through Railbird, the CFTC-regulated trade it acquired. Fanatics, now considered one of the main second-tier U.S. sportsbooks behind FanDuel and DraftKings, launched Fanatics Markets by means of a partnership with Crypto.com’s CDNA trade infrastructure. Rush Street Interactive, the operator of second-tier sportsbook BetRivers, has additionally reportedly surfaced in the house by means of Eventive III LLC, which filed with the CFTC for DCM standing.
That places a number of sportsbook-linked operators, together with three forward of bet365 in the U.S. sportsbook market, on the prediction market facet of the cut up. Other casino-linked firms have been extra cautious. Caesars, BetMGM and Penn Entertainment have usually framed sports activities occasion contracts as basically playing and warned that getting into the house might put state gaming licenses in danger.
Penn CEO Jay Snowden said in February that the authorized image round sports activities prediction markets was “clear as mud,” and that the difficulty put firms reminiscent of Penn, MGM and Caesars in an “awkward place” as a result of gaming licenses are amongst their most respected property. Caesars CEO Tom Reeg has made an identical level, saying Caesars views prediction markets as sports gambling and wouldn’t put its licenses in danger. More just lately, he said the present regulatory setting was not conducive to getting into the house.
Bet365 has not taken a comparable public place. It will not be at the moment planning a prediction market product, in accordance to an individual with information of its U.S. technique, however it additionally has not publicly warned towards the class.
No public prediction market filings have surfaced for Bet365
Bet365’s exit from the American Gaming Association (AGA) provides context, however it shouldn’t be learn as proof of a prediction market pursuit. SBC Americas reported in March that bet365 was now not an AGA member, with the firm saying the affiliation’s concentrate on land-based casinos didn’t align with its digital-first enterprise.
The timing stood out as a result of the AGA has publicly opposed sports activities occasion contracts, describing them as sports activities betting outdoors state and tribal gaming frameworks. FanDuel and DraftKings left the AGA in November as they ready prediction market merchandise. FanDuel immediately tied its exit to prediction markets, saying that “as we increase into prediction markets,” the firm acknowledged its course was not aligned with the AGA’s priorities. DraftKings was much less direct, saying its plans “now not totally align with the AGA’s course in sure areas.” Fanatics followed in December, a few week after launching Fanatics Markets, and mentioned it had a distinction of opinion with the AGA over prediction markets.
For now, the regulatory path for bet365 can be quiet. A evaluate of public CFTC and National Futures Association supplies didn’t flip up any apparent bet365-linked designated contract market (DCM), futures fee service provider or introducing dealer filings.
That doesn’t rule out a future transfer. Bet365 might have regulatory filings in the works, or it might look to purchase an present CFTC-regulated enterprise quite than construct one from scratch. DraftKings acquired Railbird, a DCM, to help its prediction market technique, whereas fantasy sports activities operator Underdog acquired Aristotle Exchange, one other CFTC-registered DCM. Bet365 might additionally search middleman standing to work with an present trade, comparable to how some sportsbook-linked merchandise have entered by means of outdoors market infrastructure.
A believable candidate, not a confirmed entrant
For now, bet365 is an organization to watch quite than a confirmed prediction market entrant. Its U.S. enterprise has grown past a easy sportsbook rollout, and the new fantasy app offers the firm a nationwide sports activities product at a time when occasion contracts are providing some rivals a nationwide attain of their very own.
But till bet365 information with regulators, declares a associate, acquires a regulated entity or feedback publicly on the class, the prediction market questions stay hypothesis.
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