Kalshi Referral Code BOOKIES: Claim Your $10 Bonus for NBA Playoffs and MLB (April 2026)

By Adam Martin

Apr 13th, 2026 6:54 PM EDT

The Kalshi referral code is BOOKIES. New users who sign up, deposit as little as $1, and complete $10 in trades receive a $10 bonus. The offer works across all available Kalshi markets, including NBA Playoffs, MLB regular season, and non-sports events like politics and economics.

This is the current Kalshi sign-up offer as of April 2026. Below, you will find how to claim it, how Kalshi compares to DFS platforms, and where the platform is available right now.

What Is Kalshi?

Kalshi is a prediction market regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). It is not a sportsbook. Instead of placing bets with a house, you trade contracts against other users on the outcomes of real events.

Each contract is a yes-or-no question. Example: "Will the Celtics win tonight?" If a Yes contract trades at $0.62, the market prices Boston at roughly 62% probability. You buy at $0.62. If the Celtics win, the contract settles at $1.00, and you profit $0.38 per contract. If they lose, it settles at $0.00.

Kalshi operates as a federally regulated exchange, similar in structure to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. This federal status allows it to operate in states where traditional sportsbooks are banned, including California, Texas, and Georgia.

How to Claim the Kalshi Referral Code BOOKIES?

1. Visit Kalshi through our link and tap "Sign Up."
2. Enter your email or continue with Google or Apple.
3. Tap "Enter referral code" and type BOOKIES.
4. Complete identity verification (name, address, SSN).
5. Deposit at least $1 using a debit card, bank transfer, Apple Pay, or crypto (USDC).
6. Place at least $10 in total trades on any market.
7. Kalshi credits your $10 bonus automatically after your trades settle.

You do not need to win your trades. The bonus triggers based on trade volume, not outcomes.

Kalshi Referral Code vs Promo Code

Most sites use "referral code" and "promo code" interchangeably when writing about Kalshi. They are not the same thing.

A promo code (like BOOKIES) is an affiliate code you enter at sign-up. It unlocks the "Trade $10, Get $10" bonus for new users.

A referral code is a personal code Kalshi gives you after your first trade. When a friend signs up with your personal referral code and meets the trade requirement, you both receive $25.

The distinction matters. The $25 referral bonus has a higher trade volume threshold than the $10 promo code bonus. If you are a new user, use the promo code BOOKIES at sign-up for the guaranteed $10 offer. Once you are on the platform, share your personal referral code with friends for the $25 bonus.

Why DFS Players Should Pay Attention to Kalshi

If you play daily fantasy on DraftKings or FanDuel, Kalshi solves a problem you already know. DFS is skill-based, but your payout depends on where you finish in a contest against thousands of entries. Kalshi removes that variable. Your payout depends only on whether the event happens.

Kalshi also opens sports markets in states where DFS availability is limited or where sportsbooks do not operate. If you live in Texas, California, or Georgia, Kalshi gives you direct access to sports outcomes without needing a state-licensed operator.

Another difference worth knowing: DFS platforms charge rake between 10% and 15% on every contest. Kalshi charges a smaller, transparent transaction fee on each trade. You can see the exact cost before you confirm.

For a full breakdown of the top DFS platforms, see our guide to the best daily fantasy sports sites at Bookies.com.

Kalshi vs DFS: Side-by-Side Comparison

Where is Kalshi Is Available on April 2026?

Kalshi is live in 40+ states under federal CFTC regulation. Sports markets are available in most of those states, but some jurisdictions restrict sports-specific contracts.

Fully operational (all markets): CA, TX, FL, NY, PA, TN, GA, SC, VA, WA, OR, CO, and 30+ additional states.

Restricted sports markets: AZ, IL, MA, MD, MI, MT, NJ, OH. Users in these states can still trade on politics, economics, weather, and entertainment.

Entirely restricted: NV (pending a Ninth Circuit appeal).

State availability changes frequently as court cases move through the system. A federal court in Tennessee upheld Kalshi's right to operate sports contracts in February 2026. An Ohio judge ruled against the platform in March 2026. Check Kalshi's app for current access in your location.

How to Trade on Kalshi?

Here is what your first trade looks like after signing up with the Kalshi referral code BOOKIES.

1. Open the Kalshi app and browse to Sports.
2. Pick a market. Example: "Will the Yankees win tonight?"
3. You see Yes at $0.55 and No at $0.45.
4. Buying 10 Yes contracts costs $5.50.
5. If the Yankees win, those contracts settle at $10.00. You profit $4.50.
6. If the Yankees lose, the contracts settle at $0.00. You lose $5.50.

That $5.50 trade counts toward your $10 trade volume requirement. Place another $4.50 or more in any other market to hit the threshold and trigger your bonus.

Think of the contract price as implied probability. A $0.55 Yes contract is the equivalent of about -122 in American odds. If you are used to reading sportsbook lines, you already understand Kalshi pricing.

What are the Kalshi Deposit Options?

Kalshi accepts debit cards, bank transfers, wire transfers, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and USDC (crypto). PayPal and Venmo are not currently supported. Minimum deposit is $1.

Disclaimer: Must be 18+ with a legal U.S. residential address. Not available in AZ, IL, MA, MD, MI, MT, NJ, NV, and OH for sports markets. Event contract trading involves risk and is not appropriate for everyone. See kalshi.com for full terms. Bookies.com may earn a commission if you sign up through our links at no extra cost to you.

About the Author

Adam Martin

More About Adam

Adam Martin is a betting analyst and DFS betting expert for Bookies.com who has covered professional sports, with an emphasis on sports gambling, for more than a decade. He is an authority on UFC betting, while also covering the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB.