How To Legally Bet & Trade On The 2026 Oscars In The United States
The 2026 Oscars ceremony airs on Sunday, March 15, starting at 7 p.m. EDT on ABC. People in all 50 states can legally trade on the outcome of multiple categories, while some states allow legal betting on their outcomes.
Traditional wagering on the Oscars has been legal in the United States since 2019. Betting sites in New Jersey, Michigan, Indiana, Arizona, Kansas, Massachusetts and Louisiana take bets on Hollywood’s biggest night of the year. Legal sports betting sites in Ontario are also booking action.
The trading markets such as Kalshi are expected to offer markets on several 98th Academy Awards outcomes, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Director.
Traditional wagering on the Oscars has been legal in the United States since 2019. Betting sites in New Jersey, Michigan, Indiana, Arizona, Kansas, Massachusetts and Louisiana take bets on Hollywood’s biggest night of the year. Legal sports betting sites in Ontario are also booking action.
FanDuel and DraftKings offer betting in all 23 categories. But not all operators offer Oscar betting markets where available. For example, BetMGM is approved for Academy Awards wagering in Indiana, Michigan, and Louisiana. DraftKings and Caesars Sportsbook had betting available in all states where it was allowed in 2024.
RELATED: 2026 Oscars Betting Guide
Some States Limit The Amount Of Oscar Wagers
The allowed amount of wagers varies by state. DraftKings Director of Race and Sports Johnny Avello told bookies.com that most Oscars bets taken by his book range between $5-$500. He wrote his first ticket in Las Vegas in 1984 and invented the Oscars betting market during his days on the OG Strip.
Trading on Kalshi is legal throughout the United States. It was cleared to operate by a federal court injunction nationwide ahead of the 2024 election during a legal dispute with the Commodity Futures Trading Corporation.
Trading on Kalshi differs from traditional sports betting in that you are not making a bet against an operator but rather trading on a specific outcome against others who are on the other side of the trade.
The payouts offered on Kalshi depend on when the trade was made, in the same way, one locks in their odds when they wager on a legal sports betting app.
Accounts on Kalshi can be funded via debit card, bank transfer, crypto, or wire transfer. Credit cards are not accepted.
‘Anora’ Won 'Best Picture' As Betting/Trading Favorite
'Anora' topped the market as the favorite for best picture before winning top honors earlier this year.
Before the Oscars, “Anora” traded at 65 cents per share on Kalshi. That means a share you purchase for 65 cents was worth $1 after “Anora” won the Best Picture award.
The price history of “Anora” offers a recap of the film’s progress during the awards season. In November 2024, it was trading at 48.4 cents per share. That price tumbled to 18 cents after the film was shut out at the Golden Globes. It surged from 27.2 cents per share to 61.3 cents per share after its big Super Bowl weekend at the Directors Guild of America, Producers Guild of America, and Critics’ Choice awards. It got another boost after “Conclave” won both the BAFTA and SAG awards, as “The Brutalist” all but fell out of favor.
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