Kalshi
$55bonus
CFTC-Approved Event Contracts on Sports, Politics & More
Trade $25, Get $55
Claim Kalshi promo code ACTION today to get $55 when you trade $25. Plus, we review this CFTC-regulated app.
$55bonus
CFTC-Approved Event Contracts on Sports, Politics & More
Trade $25, Get $55
New users can register via Kalshi promo code ACTION55. The bonus arrives as trading credit once you sign up with the code and complete $25 in eligible trades.
This page covers the offer first, then my full review of the Kalshi app, including how it works, what you can trade, fees, banking, and how it compares with Polymarket.
Here’s a quick look at the Kalshi promo code ACTION55 offer:
| 🎟️ Promo Code | ACTION55 |
| 🎁 Offer | Trade $25, Get $55! |
| 🎯 Qualifying Action | Complete at least $25 in eligible trades |
| ⏳ Bonus Expiration | 7 days after the credit is issued |
| 💵 Minimum Deposit | $10 ($1,000 for wire transfers) |
| 📍 Eligible States | 41 states and D.C. |
| ⚖️ Regulation | CFTC-regulated Designated Contract Market (DCM) |
| 📱 App Store Ratings | iOS 4.8/5, Android 4.7/5 |
Here's how I scored a $55 bonus at Kalshi by signing up with code ACTION55:
If you forget the code at sign-up, you can add it within 72 hours of creating your account, as long as you haven’t deposited yet.
These are the key terms for Kalshi promo code ACTION55:
Kalshi's terms regarding this promo code: Certain limitations apply. The offer is available to new users only, subject to the terms and conditions at kalshi.com/tc/55. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information. Not available in AZ, IL, MA, MD, MI, MT, NV, OH, and WA.
Kalshi promo code ACTION55 is valid for new users in 41 states plus Washington, D.C.
| 🚦 Status | 🗺️ States |
|---|---|
| ✅ Promo eligible | AK, AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY |
| 🚫 Promo not available | AZ, IL, MA, MD, MI, MT, NV, OH, WA |
Promo eligibility and market access aren’t identical. The nine exclusions apply to the welcome offer, and you can check which contracts are available in your location inside the app. If sports contracts are restricted where you live, any other eligible market can meet the $25 requirement.
Kalshi is federally regulated rather than licensed state by state like a sportsbook, so it remains accessible across most of the US. However, availability has become more complicated this year as several states challenge its event contracts. Most states currently have full access, while Michigan, Nevada, and Washington have restrictions on certain Kalshi markets.
Yes, in most states Kalshi is legal.
Kalshi is CFTC-regulated, with state-level disputes over sports contracts. It operates as a Designated Contract Market (DCM), the same federal framework that governs major futures exchanges. The CFTC granted Kalshi that status in 2020, making it the first federally regulated U.S. exchange built for event contracts, and customer funds are held separately from the company’s operating capital.
Several states argue that sports event contracts fall under their gaming laws, and the courts haven’t settled it. The 3rd Circuit blocked New Jersey from enforcing its gambling laws against Kalshi, while the 9th Circuit ruled that Nevada can regulate prediction markets like gambling, and New Jersey has asked the Supreme Court to weigh in. Here’s where things stand: katv
Check current access rules for your state before you sign up.
Kalshi is a CFTC-regulated exchange where you trade event contracts with other users through a central limit order book. You aren’t trading against a house. Every market is a Yes or No question tied to a real-world outcome, with contracts priced in cents from 1¢ to 99¢.
Kalshi was founded in 2018 by Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara and launched to the public in 2021. A September 2024 court ruling cleared the way for political contracts, sports contracts followed in January 2025, and CFTC-approved perpetual futures arrived in mid-2026.
Kalshi’s partner list has put its markets in front of mainstream audiences. Here are the highlights:
Kalshi has dedicated iOS and Android apps, and both are polished. The iOS app holds a 4.8/5 rating on the Apple App Store, and the Android app holds a 4.7/5 rating on Google Play. I like that Kalshi feels personal rather than like a bare order screen.
Here are the features that stood out to me:
You can also connect your Kalshi account to the Action Network app through BetSync, so eligible trades show up alongside your other activity. If you want to see what else is trading, check out our guide to prediction markets available right now.
Kalshi has a full website for desktop and mobile browsers. The browser version offers complete order book visibility, charting, and portfolio analytics, so it’s a good place to research before you trade. Account management, including payment settings and tax documents, is easy to reach there too.
Kalshi covers more ground than almost any other U.S. prediction market. Here’s a look at the main categories.
Kalshi lists contracts on game winners, player stat milestones, and season futures, with live trading during games. It also offers Combos that group several outcomes into one position. Sports contract availability depends on your state.
Here are a few examples:
Kalshi was the first CFTC-regulated platform to offer election contracts. Markets cover congressional, gubernatorial, and presidential outcomes, legislative votes, and policy decisions. Our midterm election predictions page tracks where the 2026 races stand.
Here are a few examples:
This is where Kalshi started, and it’s still one of its deepest categories. Markets cover Federal Reserve decisions, inflation reports, jobs data, and GDP, and some traders use them to hedge against broader portfolio risk.
Here are a few examples:
For something lighter, Kalshi lists contracts on box office results, music chart milestones, awards shows, and reality TV outcomes. Weather markets cover daily temperature forecasts, which are verified against National Weather Service data, along with hurricane predictions.
Kalshi lists crypto price contracts, including short-term markets that resolve in as little as 15 minutes. Approved users can also trade CFTC-regulated perpetual futures on assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Perpetuals have no fixed expiration, use a separate fee structure, and require an application for a margin account, a short questionnaire, and an educational tutorial. Leverage carries real risk, and positions can be liquidated if the market moves against you.
Contracts are priced in cents, and the price reflects the market’s implied probability. A contract at 60¢ implies a 60% chance of the event happening. If you buy at 60¢ and the event occurs, the contract settles at $1.00, which is 40¢ in profit before fees. If it doesn’t occur, it settles at $0.
You don’t have to hold until the end. You can sell before settlement if the market is open and enough buyers are available, though you may sell at a loss. Every contract has published resolution rules, and I always read them first because some contracts have unusual payout structures.
Here’s the quick breakdown of placing a trade:
Kalshi charges trading fees, and the amount depends on the contract price and how your order fills. Orders that match an existing order right away pay a taker fee, which is highest near 50¢ and lowest near 1¢ or 99¢. Here’s what the standard taker fee looks like:
| 💵 Contract Price | 💰 Taker Fee Per Contract | 💰 Taker Fee Per 100 Contracts |
|---|---|---|
| 10¢ | $0.01 | $0.63 |
| 50¢ | $0.02 | $1.75 |
| 90¢ | $0.01 | $0.63 |
Most markets don’t charge maker fees, but a few do, including NFL games. Where they apply, the standard maker fee is about $0.16 per 100 contracts at 10¢ or 90¢ and $0.44 at 50¢. Fees apply when a trade executes, win or lose, and you won’t owe one if you cancel an order before it fills. Kalshi doesn’t charge membership or settlement fees.
Kalshi’s order books are deepest in major sports, Fed decisions, CPI, and top political contracts. In those markets, I rarely see a wide gap between the best bid and ask. Smaller markets are thinner, so use limit orders and be patient with fills.
Orders can also fill partially if there aren’t enough contracts at your price. I check the order book before placing a large trade in anything outside the busiest markets.
The $55 welcome bonus is for new accounts, but existing traders have a few ways to earn:
| 🎁 Program | 💎 What You Get |
|---|---|
| Refer-a-Friend | $25 per eligible referral, up to 40 referrals and a $1,000 lifetime cap. Your progress shows in the Rewards section. |
| Liquidity Incentive Program | Daily rewards for qualifying resting orders, currently listed through January 1, 2027 |
| Perpetuals Referral | 30% of referred users’ perpetual futures fees, paid weekly, up to $1,000 per referral |
The Volume Incentive Program ended October 13, 2026, so check market pages for new volume-based promotions. Your referral code and progress live under Menu, then Referrals. A referral code is different from a promo code like ACTION55, which new users enter at sign-up.
Kalshi supports debit cards, bank transfers, digital wallets, and crypto, but not every method works in both directions. Here’s how the options compare:
| 💳 Method | ⬇️ Deposit Fee | ⬆️ Withdrawals | 💸 Withdrawal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏦 Bank Transfer (ACH) | Free | Yes | Free |
| 💳 Debit Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay | Up to 2% | Yes, after settlement and security holds | Free |
| ⚡ Real-Time Payments (RTP) | Free from Kalshi (your bank may charge) | No | N/A |
| 🅿️ PayPal | First deposit free, up to 2% after | Yes | Free |
| 🟦 Venmo | First deposit free, may vary after | Yes | Free |
| 🪙 Crypto | Provider fees may apply | Yes, after a qualifying crypto deposit | No Kalshi fee listed |
| 🔁 Wire Transfer | No Kalshi fee (bank fees may apply) | Yes, for $500,000 or more | Bank fees may apply |
| 💚 Cash App | Deposit fee applies | No | N/A |
The standard minimum deposit is $10, and wire transfers require at least $1,000. ACH is my pick for most traders because it’s free, though it can take up to five business days to settle.
Kalshi can temporarily hold newly deposited funds. For debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and ACH deposits, funds are usually available once the deposit settles if you withdraw through the same method. Switching methods can add up to two days. The withdrawal screen shows exactly when your funds become available.
The quickest way to reach Kalshi is the in-app chat. Open the menu, select Get help, then choose Chat with support. An AI assistant answers common questions and routes tougher issues to the support team.
Kalshi also offers email support at support@kalshi.com for when you can’t access chat, plus a self-service Help Center. There’s no phone or text support. Response times aren’t guaranteed and can run slow, so include your registered email and screenshots on account-specific issues.
Kalshi and Polymarket are both CFTC-regulated and are NBA and NHL partners, so they compete directly for sports traders. Here’s how Kalshi promo code ACTION55 and Polymarket promo code PREDICTPRO compare:
| 🔍 Category | 🟩 Kalshi | 🟦 Polymarket |
|---|---|---|
| Promo Code | ACTION55 | PREDICTPRO |
| Welcome Offer | Trade $25, Get $55! | Deposit $10, Get a $25 Trading Bonus! |
| Bonus Expiration | 7 days after the credit is issued | 30 days after the bonus is issued |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, and desktop web | iOS, Android, and desktop web |
| Combos | Yes | Yes, with Build a Combo across sports and crypto |
| Social Features | Social tab with a feed, following, and a leaderboard | Squads: group chats with friends where you can copy trades |
| Trading Fees | Takers pay a fee that peaks near 50¢, and a few markets charge makers | Takers pay by category, makers pay nothing and can earn rebates |
| Deposit Fees | Up to 2% on debit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay | None from Polymarket |
| Crypto Deposits | Yes | Yes |
| Perpetual Futures | Yes, for approved accounts | No |
| Sports Restrictions | Court orders limit sports contracts in MI, NV, and WA | Trading unavailable in NV, and new sports contracts end in MI after November 25 |
| App Store Ratings | iOS 4.8/5, Android 4.7/5 | iOS 4.6/5, Android 3.9/5 |
Kalshi wins on payment variety, perpetual futures, and a bigger welcome bonus. Polymarket’s edge is no deposit fees and its Squads group chats. For the full breakdown, read our Polymarket promo code and app review.
PredictionPro rates Kalshi 4.7/5. Here’s what earns that score and where it loses points:
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|
| First CFTC-regulated U.S. prediction market | Support can be slow, with no phone option |
| Widest market variety, from sports to weather | Liquidity thins out in smaller markets |
| Social tab, leaderboard, and Combos | Up to 2% fee on card and wallet deposits |
| Many deposit and withdrawal methods | Bonus is credit with a 7-day expiration |
| No membership or settlement fees | Court-ordered sports restrictions in some states |
| 🏆 Category | ⭐ Score |
|---|---|
| Trust, Safety, and Compliance | 5.0 |
| Market Depth | 4.9 |
| UX and Interface | 4.8 |
| Banking | 4.8 |
| Bonus Value and Promos | 4.7 |
| Liquidity and Execution | 4.7 |
| Support and Responsibility | 4.5 |
Event contract trading carries a risk of substantial loss, and you can lose your entire investment. Kalshi builds several tools into the platform:
For security, Kalshi defaults to Face ID on supported devices, uses two-factor authentication, and runs ID checks to keep minors out. A seven-day bonus window can tempt you to trade just to use the credit, so set a budget first and trade only what you can afford to lose. If trading stops being fun, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET.
Yes. Kalshi reports trading activity to the IRS and issues tax forms including a 1099-MISC for bonuses and rewards, a 1099-B for crypto-related transaction proceeds, and a 1099-INT for interest payments.
Each Kalshi market has a published resolution rulebook that specifies exactly what source or criteria will be used to determine the outcome. If a resolution is disputed, users can flag it through the in-app whistleblower feature or by contacting support directly.
No. Attempting to use a VPN to bypass Kalshi's geographic restrictions violates Kalshi's Terms of Service and could result in permanent account suspension and forfeiture of your balance.
A Market Order executes immediately at the best available price in the order book — fast, but you accept whatever price the market offers. A Limit Order lets you set a specific price you're willing to pay or accept; your order only fills if the market reaches that price.
Yes. Kalshi calculates profit and loss using FIFO (First-In-First-Out) accounting, and P&L data is updated on the first of each month. Tax documents are issued when you hit applicable reporting thresholds. All bonus and reward income is reported on a 1099-MISC.
Yes, you can add it within 72 hours of creating your account, as long as you haven’t deposited yet. Once a code is applied, it can’t be replaced.
No, the $55 is trading credit rather than cash. You need to trade through the credit once before eligible profits become withdrawable, and unused credit expires after seven days.
No, any eligible Kalshi market counts toward the $25 requirement, including politics, economics, entertainment, and weather. That means you can qualify even if sports contracts are restricted in your state.
Yes, Kalshi charges trading fees that vary by contract price and peak near 50¢, and a few markets also charge maker fees. Kalshi doesn’t charge membership or settlement fees.
Kalshi primarily supports debit cards, though some credit cards may process. American Express isn’t supported, and your card issuer may charge extra fees, such as cash advance fees.
Kalshi provides an annual profit-and-loss statement in the Tax Info section of your account, and you may also receive 1099 forms depending on your activity. Consult a tax professional about how to report your trades.