Library/Sportsbooks vs Prediction Markets - Market Structure and Its Effects
MicrostructureAnalysis

Sportsbooks vs Prediction Markets - Market Structure and Its Effects

taetaehoho·May 12, 2026·Twitter
Prediction markets beat sportsbooks by 100-300 bps on liquid markets but have 10-50% spreads on long-tail events

Why It's Worth Reading

Compares spreads across DraftKings, FanDuel, Polymarket, and Kalshi on identical sports markets to isolate how counterparty identification versus maker competition affects pricing. Finds PM prices are 100-300 bps better on liquid markets but long-tail markets on prediction markets have 10-50% spreads. Argues sportsbooks tighten spreads through counterparty-aware pricing while PMs compensate through maker competition and order book transparency.

Some technical background helpful

Concepts

Platforms mentioned: DraftKings, FanDuel, Polymarket, Kalshi

Related Reading