DraftKings: NFL Handle Up 15%, Prediction Markets a "Huge Growth Story"
DraftKings CEO and co-founder Jason Robins told investors this week that the company's NFL betting handle is running 15% ahead of last year's pace through the first two weeks of the 2026 season, speaking at the Wells Fargo 9th Annual Consumer Conference on September 22. Robins also said DraftKings is "regaining some share" in online casino gaming, with growth accelerating in that business as well.
Prediction markets nearly tripled since July
Robins described DraftKings Predictions, the company's prediction-markets product, as a "huge growth story," saying trading volume has nearly tripled since July. He put the platform's market share in sports prediction markets at close to double digits overall, with an even stronger position specifically in NFL markets, where he said DraftKings offers roughly three times as many markets as its competitors and about 1.5 times as many college football and MLB markets.
Financial targets unchanged, more spending possible
DraftKings' core sportsbook-and-iGaming business remains on track for roughly $1 billion in adjusted EBITDA for 2026, with Robins projecting a material step up in 2027. He indicated the company could increase spending beyond current levels if it helps accelerate revenue and gross profit growth next year, framing further investment in prediction markets as a lever rather than a cost to be trimmed.
Why it matters for bettors
The prediction-markets category — separate, CFTC-regulated contracts that let users take positions on sports outcomes outside the traditional sportsbook licensing structure some states use — has become one of the most closely watched fights in the industry this year, with several states moving to restrict or ban the products even as major operators like DraftKings and Kalshi expand into them. A rising handle number alongside rapid prediction-markets growth suggests the two products are, for now, expanding DraftKings' overall footprint rather than cannibalizing each other, which is likely to keep prediction markets in regulators' sights heading into the rest of the NFL season.