Two major prediction market platforms, Polymarket and Kalshi, are handing out free groceries as they battle for dominance in the rapidly expanding prediction markets sector. Kalshi distributed $50 grocery vouchers to more than 1,000 people in Manhattan on Tuesday, while rival Polymarket said it will open a free grocery store next week.
Kalshi and Polymarket continue to dominate prediction market trading volumes, which now consistently exceed $400 million a day—roughly four times higher than at the same point last year.
Kalshi generated $263.5 million in fee revenue in 2025 alone, while both platforms have reached multibillion-dollar valuations driven by major integrations.
Kalshi’s grocery promotion took place Tuesday at the Westside Market at 84 3rd Ave. in Manhattan between noon and 3 p.m. local time. Videos circulating on social media showed lines stretching several blocks.
Kalshi’s guest list indicated that 1,795 people registered to receive free groceries, though mainstream media outlets reported attendance in the “thousands.”
Polymarket to launch “The Polymarket”
On Tuesday, Polymarket announced it had signed a lease to open what it described as New York’s first free grocery store and pledged $1 million to Food Bank for NYC to support food access across all five boroughs.
The company said the store, dubbed “The Polymarket,” has been in development for months and will open fully stocked next Thursday at noon local time.
“Free groceries. Free markets. Built for the people who power New York.”
Both platforms have ramped up media partnerships in recent months, with Polymarket teaming up with Dow Jones in January and Kalshi securing partnerships with CNN and CNBC in December.
Polymarket has also rolled out a marketing campaign featuring billboards designed to be vandalized, while Kalshi has relied on digital billboards to display live odds across a range of markets.
Despite the aggressive push, prediction market platforms have been barred from advertising during the Super Bowl on Feb. 8.
Both Polymarket and Kalshi are headquartered in New York City, where the grocery promotions are taking place. The city is widely regarded as the world’s financial capital, home to both the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.
