Sports-Betting Stocks Face Growing Threat From Prediction Rivals

Core Insights - Stock traders are increasingly viewing prediction markets as a significant growth area in online gambling, with a notable surge in activity reported [1] - Robinhood Markets and Kalshi have seen a rapid increase in prediction market wagers, with over 2 billion contracts traded in Q3 [2] - The rise of prediction markets is causing a decline in shares of traditional online betting operators like DraftKings and Flutter Entertainment, prompting analysts to adjust their ratings [3] Company Developments - Robinhood's partnership with Kalshi allows users to place bets on various events, contributing to the growth of prediction markets [2] - DraftKings experienced a significant drop of over 16% in its stock price, marking its largest weekly decline since late 2022, while Flutter Entertainment's shares fell more than 8% [3] - Analysts are urging online betting companies to develop strategies to compete with emerging prediction markets [4] Industry Trends - The gambling industry is undergoing a transformation, with prediction markets poised to disrupt traditional online betting platforms [4] - Kalshi and Polymarket are gaining traction, particularly ahead of the 2024 presidential election, attracting interest from sports gamblers [5] - Kalshi has introduced customizable parlays for NFL games, which is expected to enhance its sports-betting operations and has already set new volume records [6]