Three ways to
make sports picks
Where regular sportsbooks aren't legal, three other kinds of apps fill the gap. They look alike on your phone, but they run on different laws, use different money and pay out differently.
| Sweepstakes sportsbook | Prediction market | DFS pick'em | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you play with | Free coins, plus prize coins you can also get free | Real money you deposit | Real money you deposit |
| What you do | Make picks: spreads, totals, parlays, props (varies) | Buy Yes or No contracts that pay $1 if right | Pick More or Less on 2+ player stats |
| Who you play against | The site | Other traders; prices move | The site’s payout chart (or other players) |
| Purchase needed? | No. Buying coins is optional | Yes, a deposit | Yes, an entry fee |
| What makes it legal | Sweepstakes law (no purchase necessary) | Federal CFTC regulation; states dispute it | State fantasy-sports laws |
| Typical age | 18+ (19+ or 21+ at some) | 18+ (21+ at some) | 18+ (19+ or 21+ in some states) |
| Getting paid | Redeem prize coins after playthrough | Withdraw your balance | Withdraw your balance |
Sweepstakes sportsbooks
- Free coinsSign-up, daily, mail-in. Buying is optional
- Make picksFun coins or prize coins
- Play bonus throughUsually 1x
- Redeem prize coinsCash or gift cards
Two coins: one for fun, one prize coin (Fliff Cash, Sweeps Coins). No purchase is needed, so they run under sweepstakes law, and states that ban sweepstakes casinos usually ban these too.
Sites we track: Fliff, Sportzino, Legendz, Thrillzz, Bracco, Courtside, Betr, Onyx Odds.
Catches: most pay by bank only and some limit how often you can redeem. See what a match is worth with the bonus value calculator.
Prediction markets
- DepositReal money
- Buy Yes or No1¢ to 99¢ a contract (Novig shows 1% to 99%)
- Hold or sell earlyPrices move with trading
- Right: $1 eachWrong: $0
Exchanges regulated by the CFTC, where you trade against other people. Novig, ProphetX and others switched to this model from sweeps in 2026. Turn any price into sportsbook odds with the prediction market calculator.
Sites we track: Novig, Kalshi, Polymarket US, ProphetX, Robinhood, Crypto.com Predictions, DraftKings Predictions, FanDuel Predicts, Fanatics Markets.
The legal fight, as of Nov 3, 2026
- 3rd CircuitSided with Kalshi (NJ)
- 9th CircuitSided with Nevada
- 6th CircuitSided with Ohio
- Supreme CourtAsked to decide (No. 26-299)
Big sportsbook brands (DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics) only offer sports contracts where they don't run a licensed sportsbook. Sources: DeFi Rate legal tracker, CFTC.
What that means for you: an app that works in your state today could switch off sports contracts tomorrow. Withdraw what you don't need on the platform.
DFS pick'em
- Pay an entryFrom a few dollars
- Pick More or LessOn 2 or more player stats
- Fixed payout charte.g. 3.5x for 2 right at Underdog
- All right: paidA miss: lost (or less on flex)
Daily fantasy contests, legal under each state's fantasy-sports rules, which is why ages and state lists differ so much. Where player pick'em isn't allowed, PrizePicks and Underdog sometimes offer prediction-style team picks instead.
Sites we track: PrizePicks, Underdog, Sleeper, Dabble, Betr Picks.
Before you sign up anywhere
Questions
Do I have to buy anything at a sweepstakes sportsbook?
No. Every sweepstakes sportsbook has to offer a free way to get prize coins, such as sign-up and daily bonuses or a mail-in request. Buying coin packages is optional and usually adds bonus prize coins.
Why do prediction markets show prices in cents?
Each contract pays $1 if it’s right and $0 if it’s wrong, so the price is the market’s guess at the chance. A 40¢ Yes is like +150 odds. Our odds converter accepts cents.
Why does my state change what I can use?
Each kind rests on a different law. States can ban sweepstakes gaming, limit fantasy contests, or challenge prediction markets in court, so the three lists rarely match.
Are these a way to make money?
No. Every one of them is built so the site comes out ahead on average. Treat them as entertainment and only stake what you can afford to lose.
This page explains how these apps work. It isn't legal advice. 21+. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER. Play responsibly.