Nearly nine in ten have never traded on event-contract platforms
Core finding
Betting on real-world events remains a niche habit: 88% of Americans say they have never placed a trade on an event contract platform like Kalshi or Polymarket, according to a March 2026 Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults.
The 12% who do trade are mostly occasional: 5% place trades a few times a year, 4% at least once monthly, and 2% only for major events like presidential elections or the World Cup, while just 1% trade weekly or more often.
Topline distribution
Nearly nine in ten have never traded on event-contract platforms.
On average, how often do you place trades on event contract platforms like Kalshi or Polymarket?
n = 1,000 · Mar 6–16, 2026 · MoE ±3.5%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Mar 6–16, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.5% |
| Module | Module 2: Economics, Work, & Policy |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/omnibus-2026-044
On average, how often do you place trades on event contract platforms like Kalshi or Polymarket?
Cite this question
Verasight Client Omnibus Survey #2026-044, fielded March 6-16, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.