DraftKings is building out its prediction market for football season. Its in-house exchange, Railbird Exchange, known as DKeX, self-certified nine football contract categories with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Aug. 10.
The filings cover markets that closely mirror a mobile sportsbook’s football menu. Game winners, spreads, totals, player props, and season awards all appear on the list. The contracts become certified Aug. 12 and can list for trading right after.
The move comes three days after DKeX self-certified its COMBOS product, which lets players combine two or more separately listed contracts. DraftKings is clearly positioning DKeX as a full football hub before kickoff.
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What DKeX Filed with the CFTC
The nine categories below cover almost every angle a football bettor already knows from a standard sportsbook.
| Contract Category | What It Covers |
| FOOTBALLWIN | Whether a team wins a game or a set period, similar to a moneyline bet. |
| FOOTBALLSPREAD | Whether a team beats or covers a set point margin, the same idea as a point spread. |
| FOOTBALLTOTALS | Whether combined or team points land above or below a set number, the same idea as an over/under. |
| FOOTBALLENTITYSTAT | Whether a specific player or team hits a set statistical mark. |
| FOOTBALLGAMESTAT | Whether a game-wide statistic lands above or below a set mark. |
| FOOTBALLENTITYACHIEVEMENT | Whether a player or team reaches a specific in-game achievement. |
| Head-to-Head Comparisons | Statistical match-ups between two players in the same game. |
| Season Awards | Outcomes tied to end-of-season honors. |
| Outright Outcomes | Final results for a season-long or tournament-style competition. |
Source: DraftKings/Railbird Exchange CFTC self-certification filings, Aug. 10, 2026.
The filings name the NFL and college football, including the College Football Playoff, and leave room for additional football competitions later in the season.
The Growth Numbers Behind the Push
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins told analysts on last week’s Q2 earnings call that the company expects prediction markets to accelerate sharply once football season starts.
Robins said the platform’s annualized trading volume jumped from $2.3 billion in April to $11 billion in July. More than 600,000 customers have used the product this year.
He called football season a chance to bring in “millions and millions of customers” to the exchange, adding that adoption has already “far surpassed our expectations.”
Combos Add Fuel to the Predictions Push
DKeX self-certified its COMBOS product on Aug. 7. A COMBOS contract lets a customer bundle two or more separately certified DKeX contracts into one trade, similar to a parlay on a traditional sportsbook.
DraftKings Predictions already offers combos through Crypto.com’s exchange infrastructure. Robins said more than half of Predictions customers have used combos, and the product now drives about 20% of trading volume.
Bringing football markets and combos onto DKeX lets DraftKings shift more of its own sports volume in-house. Robins told analysts the company plans to move most major sports contracts onto its own exchange to improve unit economics.
What This Means for Sports Bettors
Prediction market contracts work differently from a traditional sportsbook wager, even when the outcome looks the same on screen. Contracts trade on an exchange, and pricing can move as other users trade.
Regulation is also moving fast and unevenly. Prediction markets face active legal challenges in several states, so availability depends heavily on where a player lives.
Bettors comparing a prediction market contract with a regulated sportsbook line should check the platform’s fee structure, how pricing moves, and whether the product is available and licensed in their state before placing a trade.
FAQs
What did DraftKings just file with the CFTC?
DraftKings' Railbird Exchange, known as DKeX, self-certified nine football contract categories on Aug. 10, 2026. The filings cover game winners, spreads, totals, player and team stats, achievements, head-to-head comparisons, season awards, and outright outcomes. The contracts become certified Aug. 12.
Are DKeX football contracts the same as sports betting?
They work differently. DKeX contracts trade on an exchange and cover many of the same outcomes as a sportsbook bet, such as spreads and totals. Pricing can shift as other users trade, unlike a fixed sportsbook line set before kickoff.
How big is DraftKings' prediction market business?
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins said annualized trading volume grew from $2.3 billion in April 2026 to $11 billion in July 2026. More than 600,000 customers have used the product so far this year, and Robins expects football season to bring the platform's biggest growth yet.
