DraftKings Railbird Exchange self-certifies first sports event contracts for May 27 listing
DraftKings' designated contract market, Railbird Exchange, LLC, operating as DKeX, filed self-certification for its first sports prediction market contracts with the CFTC on May 26-27, 2026, with a planned listing date of May 27. The filings cover winner, spread, prop, stat, achievement, and head-to-head markets across major sports. The move advances DraftKings Predictions toward launching contracts on its own regulated exchange rather than through third-party platforms, building on the company's late 2025 launch of DraftKings Predictions. Rival FanDuel has pursued a parallel strategy through its CME Group partnership on FanDuel Predicts.
DraftKings' shift to its own DCM ends its reliance on third-party platforms for regulated event contracts and puts it in direct competition with Kalshi's native exchange model. Any CFTC challenge to the self-certifications would delay the company's ability to match FanDuel Predicts' trading infrastructure ahead of the NFL season.
Becomes the third major sportsbook to build regulated prediction-market infrastructure after FanDuel's CME partnership and Betr's ACM acquisition, as DraftKings moves from third-party platforms to its own CFTC-registered exchange.