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Prediction market platform Kalshi recorded $1.73 billion in esports contract volume during the twelve months ending in September 2026. While monthly volume remained below $0.4 million prior to October 2025, activity surged significantly throughout 2026, peaking at $391 million in August.
The platform's esports offerings began in autumn 2025 with a single market for the League of Legends World Championship. Following this, Kalshi expanded to include single-match markets for Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, and Dota 2. Quarterly volume grew from $44 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 to $967 million in the third quarter of 2026.
Trading volume spikes are closely tied to major tournaments. August 2026 saw a peak driven by the Esports World Cup and Dota 2’s The International, while June 2026 performance was bolstered by the IEM Cologne Major. Despite this growth, esports remains a small portion of Kalshi's total activity, representing 1.6% of single-leg trading in September 2026.
Industry observers note that prediction market volume is not directly comparable to traditional sportsbook handle, as it counts contracts traded rather than initial cash deposits. Future interest is expected to center on the League of Legends World Championships, which may serve as a barometer for US-based engagement.
