Prediction Markets Are Booming—Will Crypto Casinos Be Next?

Prediction markets have just enjoyed their biggest month on record, with a new report from Macquarie Equity Research estimating that more than $50 billion in trading volume passed through the sector during June alone.

Much of that activity was fuelled by the FIFA World Cup, highlighting just how quickly prediction markets are becoming part of the mainstream betting market.

Kalshi remained the dominant platform, accounting for an estimated $33 billion in monthly trading volume, or around 65% of the market. According to Macquarie, that places the industry on an annualised run rate exceeding $500 billion, with sports contracts now representing roughly half of all activity.

Those figures are remarkable, but they also raise an interesting question.

If prediction markets continue growing at this pace, how long will it be before every major crypto casino wants a piece of the action?

Crypto Casinos Are Already Paying Attention

The answer may be sooner than many people think.

Several crypto gambling operators have already begun embracing prediction markets as they look to diversify beyond traditional casino games and sportsbooks.

Duelbits was one of the earlier crypto casinos to experiment with prediction markets, while Roobet recently followed by launching its own prediction market product.

Rather than viewing these platforms as competitors, many operators appear to be recognising them as a natural extension of the betting experience already enjoyed by crypto users. The appeal is easy to understand.

Prediction markets allow users to speculate on far more than sporting events. Politics, entertainment, financial markets and even technology announcements can all become tradable events, creating an entirely different form of engagement compared to conventional sportsbooks.

For crypto-native users already comfortable with blockchain technology and digital assets, the transition feels like a natural one.

The World Cup Has Accelerated Adoption

Macquarie believes the FIFA World Cup played a major role in June’s record trading volumes.

The investment bank had previously estimated that the tournament itself would generate more than $50 billion in traditional sports betting turnover. That prediction excluded prediction markets entirely, making June’s figures even more significant.

The report also highlighted FIFA’s partnership with prediction market operator ADI Predictstreet and Kalshi, suggesting the collaboration was primarily about improving liquidity rather than marketing exposure.

At the same time, the wider ecosystem continues to evolve rapidly.

DraftKings has launched its own prediction market exchange, DKeX, while Polymarket continues expanding through new sports partnerships. Robinhood-backed Rothera has also emerged as a serious new entrant, reportedly generating billions of dollars in World Cup-related trading volume within weeks of launching.

The momentum behind the sector is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Growth Doesn’t Come Without Controversy

Despite the impressive growth, prediction markets haven’t enjoyed a completely smooth ride.

Over the past year, the sector has faced several high-profile controversies that have raised questions around regulation, market integrity, and user protection.

Polymarket has faced accusations relating to insider trading concerns, while the platform also attracted widespread criticism following reports that traders harassed an Israeli journalist over market-related activity.

More recently, Portugal ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket for residents as regulators continued tightening their stance towards unlicensed prediction market platforms.

Meanwhile, operators continue to face legal challenges in several US states over whether sports-event contracts should be regulated as federally approved derivatives or treated as traditional gambling products.

These issues highlight that, despite rapid growth, prediction markets still face significant regulatory hurdles before achieving widespread global acceptance.

Final Thoughts

Whether prediction markets eventually become a permanent fixture alongside online sportsbooks remains to be seen.

What is becoming increasingly clear, however, is that crypto casinos are watching the sector very closely.

With Duelbits and Roobet already entering the market, it feels less like an experiment and more like the beginning of a wider industry trend. If trading volumes continue climbing and regulation becomes clearer, don’t be surprised to see many more crypto casinos introducing their own prediction market products over the next few years.

For now, the message from June’s record-breaking figures is simple: prediction markets are no longer a niche product. They are rapidly becoming one of the most closely watched sectors in online betting, and the crypto gambling industry appears determined not to miss the opportunity.

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