The list of sportsbooks set on getting in the prediction market space isn’t limited to just American operators.
British gaming company Matchbook Sports aims to launch a prediction market product in the U.K. in January, and it appears the company is laying the ground to expand into the U.S. as well.
UK prediction product set for January
Matchbook confirmed the U.K. product to SBC Media on Friday.
“The buzz around prediction markets in the US has been undeniable—it’s proving to be one of the most engaging and data-rich forms of trading available. Matchbook’s platform is designed to provide best-in-class liquidity and a low-commission structure, making it attractive for both experienced financial traders and seasoned betting enthusiasts,” said Matchbook Chief Strategy Officer Jesse May.
“Prediction Markets are a fantastic way of presenting our market-leading pricing to customers in a more understandable user interface; all powered by the strength of the Matchbook betting exchange engine.”
Matchbook partnered with RSBIX in the US
After it plants its flag in the relatively unforged territory of British prediction markets, it aims to expand into a tougher field.
Gaming attorney Jeff Ifrah confirmed that he has partnered with Matchbook on a U.S.-facing prediction market market product as well.
In many ways, Ifrah was ahead of the curve on the concept of sports-related event contracts.
“I was the first one to bring the idea of a sports events futures contract to the CFTC in 2020 and that was the first events futures contract, which is what all the current CFTC prediction markets are now using,” Ifrah told SBC Americas.
Ifrah’s group Regulated Sports Betting Index Exchange (RSBIX) along with designated cotnracts merchant (DCM) ErisX tried to self-certify sports-related event contracts in 2020. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) reviewed the contracts and were prepared to issue an order ruling that these contracts constituted gambling that was not in public interest of the law and could not be listed on the exchange.
However, before the order was issued, ErisX withdrew the contracts. Accordingly, the order never became public or official, which was brought to light in a CFTC statement by then-Commissioner Brian Quintenz, who noted he would have dissented with the decision.
In September, RSBIX subitted an application to the CFTC to serve as its own DCM. That application is still pending.
If and when Matchbook and RSBIX get to the U.S., it could be a crowded place to compete. Underdog, PrizePicks and Fanatics Markets are all already live with some sort of prediction product, while DraftKings and FanDuel are expected to launch their prediction products in Q1 of 2026. Throw in the existing contenders of Kalshi, Crypto.com, Polymarket and partner Robinhood and you have a marketplace that is about as crowded as regulated sports betting.
