Video Game Prediction Markets: An Introduction

A gamer's guide to turning video game passion and knowledge into real money trading at prediction markets.

Millions of video game fans speculate on new games and consoles, and now they can do so for real money at legal U.S. prediction platforms like Kalshi. Video game markets cover a wide range of questions like what will win game of the year to when will the next Grand Theft Auto be released. 

The video game industry is massive and keeps expanding each year. In 2024, its global revenue hit an impressive $184.3 billion. A highly competitive market has spawned large corporations, ranging from Nintendo to Activision Blizzard.

And now video gamers can turn their knowledge of this niche space into financial positions and potential profit with accurate industry predictions.

How to start trading on video game prediction markets

Thanks to legal prediction market platforms, video game fans can trade on their favorite video games, consoles, and so on. Unlike most other prediction market platforms, Kalshi is a CFTC-regulated exchange. This means the platform is legal for U.S. users.

But what can you actually do on prediction market platforms? Platforms like Kalshi allow you to trade on the likelihood of an event occurring. And it’s not limited to video games — you can also trade on the economy, movies, politics, and more.

For example, video game fans can speculate on which game will win Game of the Year at the annual Game Awards. The market has trading volume well over $1.3 million.

In that market, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the favorite with a probability of 65%. In this example, if you believe Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s chances are higher, you can purchase “yes” shares for $0.65. If you do not think the game’s chances should be this high, you can buy “no” shares for $0.40. If you are correct and bought 100 “yes” shares, you will make a profit of $33.40.

This is precisely why, for fans of video games, this is an excellent opportunity to make money off your passions. But there is risk involved: If your prediction is incorrect, the contracts settle for $0 meaning you lose your investment.

How does video game trading work on Kalshi?

Kalshi boasts a wide variety of video game-related markets. As previously mentioned, there are markets that predict which games will win awards at The Game Awards. Additionally, some markets predict a video game’s Metacritic score. Metacritic is a website that aggregates reviews and assigns a general score to video games. If you’re familiar with Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic serves a similar function. Each of the Metacritic markets resolves seven days after the video game’s release at 10:00 am Eastern.

There are also markets for tournaments for various games. For example, a market exists for the Esports World Cup Winner in Dota 2. Additionally, a market is available for the massively popular League of Legends tournaments, specifically the winner of the Mid-Season Invitational.

There are also markets for when a video game or console will be released. For example, there is one for Grand Theft Auto 6, which isn’t surprising given that the game has been postponed twice. For consoles, predictions have been made about the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, and now there are markets for when the PS6 is announced.

For massively popular games, there are markets for more than just their Metacritic score, but also for when the next trailer will be released. Additionally, there are markets for various prices of video games and consoles, such as one market predicting when Sony will announce a price cut for the PS5 Pro.

Tips for trading video game markets

There are many ways to improve your predictions for Metacritic markets. Some top strategy tips for trading on this market include:

  • Consider the past critical reception of games made by the publisher.
  • Examine how the publisher has performed in a similar genre.
  • Look at how games in that genre are typically received by critics.
  • Lastly, take a look at early social media reactions; are they mostly positive or negative?

For the awards markets, learn everything you can about the category.

  • Who are all the nominees, and what are their receptions?
  • Scout social media, critical reviews, podcasts, and so on to see where the reception was warmest and draw your predictions from there.

In general, for all predictions, avoid relying solely on a single source. If you have a favorite video game streamer or podcast, their opinion should not be the only one you consider.

Step outside your niche and consume a variety of information sources. This can lead to a more comprehensive understanding and better predictions.

Another important tip is to listen to the experts, not just casual gamers. Casual gamers are less likely to have a good grasp of which games are forecasted winners in an award category or will receive strong critical reception. Experts have been in the industry for years and have an eye for what will perform well.

Lastly, popularity doesn’t necessarily mean a game is good. If you have a favorite game, that’s wonderful, but it doesn’t inherently mean the game will be well-received. If all your friends are playing a game, it doesn’t necessarily make the game a Game of the Year contender.

Step outside your circle of friends and dig into what experts and others are saying about the game. Most importantly, do your research before trading in any financial market, including on video game prediction markets.

Should you trade on video game prediction markets?

Kalshi’s video game markets offer fans a unique way to turn gaming knowledge into real money, but success depends on more than just gut instinct. By following critical reception trends, tracking publisher track records, and stepping outside your own gaming bubble, you’ll give yourself a stronger edge.

Whether you’re predicting Metacritic scores, release dates, or the next Game of the Year winner, these markets reward research-driven strategies over hype. If you’re willing to do your homework, gaming prediction markets might just be your next big power-up.

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