MargusThe table above compares Polymarket US's stored moneyline prices with the best stored sportsbook price on the same outcome for the next seven days. This guide explains how to read those prices, what Polymarket US charges, and how to judge whether an exchange price really beats the sportsbook odds from DraftKings, BetRivers or theScore Bet.
Affiliate disclosure: Margus may earn compensation from some outbound operator links. Commercial relationships never change which stored price ranks as best. The fee-schedule links in this guide are direct informational sources.
Key takeaways
- Polymarket US is an exchange. You trade event contracts with other participants; nobody is setting odds against you.
- Prices read as probabilities. A 45 cent contract implies roughly 45%.
- Fees follow a published formula. Standard taker fees peak at 50 cents and shrink toward 1 and 99 cents.
- Regulation: the CFTC lists QCX LLC d/b/a Polymarket US as a designated contract market. Eligibility still depends on location, so check current status.
- Compare equivalent outcomes only. Settlement rules decide whether two prices are genuinely comparable.
What is Polymarket US?
Polymarket is best known for its prediction markets on news, politics and culture. Polymarket US is the US-regulated exchange, operated by QCX LLC, and it is the venue whose prices Margus stores. Sports are a large part of its catalogue, with game markets on US leagues and football (soccer) alongside other event types.
Like Kalshi, Polymarket US is a marketplace. Prices are set by participants' orders on a central order book, and the exchange earns money from trading fees. That makes its prices a useful second opinion next to sportsbooks: a crowd-driven number with a different cost structure.
How Polymarket contracts and pricing work
Contracts trade between $0.01 and $0.99 and settle at $1 if the defined outcome happens and $0 if it does not, according to the market's rules. That makes the price an implied probability:
- 20 cents ≈ 20% implied
- 45 cents ≈ 45%
- 80 cents ≈ 80%
To translate a 45 cent price into sportsbook formats:
- Decimal (UK and Europe): 1 / 0.45 ≈ 2.22
- American (US): about +122
- Fractional (UK): about 6/5
If those conversions are new, start with how to read odds and implied probability. The displayed price is not guaranteed for any size; larger orders can fill at worse prices as they work through the book.
Polymarket US fees
Polymarket US publishes its fee schedule in its documentation (Polymarket US: Fee Schedule). As of the version we read on 2 November 2026, standard taker fees use the formula Fee = Θ × C × p × (1 − p), where C is the number of contracts, p is the price and Θ is 0.0695 for standard markets. Some markets use a different coefficient, and combination trades use a separate curve.
What this means in practice:
- Fees are highest around 50 cents. Per the published table, a 100-contract taker trade at $0.50 costs $1.74 in fees.
- Fees shrink near the extremes. The same table shows $0.63 at $0.10 or $0.90.
- Makers can earn rebates. Orders that rest on the book and get filled can receive rebates, depending on monthly volume tier.
- No fee on cancelled orders. Fees are only charged when a trade executes.
The schedule has changed several times this year, so check the live page before relying on these numbers. When comparing with a sportsbook, add the fee to the Polymarket price; the sportsbook's cost is already inside its odds as vig.
Availability and regulation
The CFTC lists QCX LLC, operating as Polymarket US, as a designated contract market (CFTC: Designated Contract Markets). As with all sports event contracts in the US, the legal position at state level has been debated and can change.
Margus tracks Polymarket US specifically. Polymarket's other products, and access to any of them from the UK, Europe or elsewhere, depend on the operator's eligibility rules and local law. Margus does not confirm eligibility for any location. Check the operator's current terms and your local rules first.
Pros and cons of Polymarket for sports
Pros:
- Formula-based fees that are easy to calculate in advance.
- Crowd pricing that can differ meaningfully from sportsbook lines, which is useful for line shopping.
- Early exit. Positions can usually be sold before settlement if there is demand.
- Clear $1 payout, so implied probability is obvious.
Cons:
- Fees on top of the price, highest on close-to-even markets.
- Uneven liquidity. Popular games can be deep; smaller markets may be thin.
- Settlement rules differ from sportsbook house rules on draws, overtime and postponements.
- Fewer markets per game than a full sportsbook.
- Eligibility limits depending on location.
How to compare Polymarket prices with sportsbooks on Margus
The table at the top of this page lists upcoming NFL, NBA and soccer events in the next seven days where a Polymarket US market maps to a Margus event. For each outcome it shows the stored Polymarket price, the best stored sportsbook price and which is better. If no market maps, the table is hidden instead of guessing.
A practical checklist:
- Use one scale. Compare implied probabilities. The side with the lower implied probability for the outcome you want is the better price.
- Price in the fee. At 50 cents the standard taker fee is about 1.7 cents per contract, which is enough to flip a close comparison.
- Read the resolution rules. In football (soccer), sportsbook 1X2 markets treat the draw as its own result over 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Confirm the Polymarket contract does the same before comparing.
- Check depth. The better price may only be available for a small amount.
- Look across every book. Our odds hub, NFL odds and soccer odds show the full market, and our line shopping guide explains why small edges add up.
Our methodology explains how events are mapped and how the best price is chosen. For the bigger picture, read prediction markets vs sportsbooks or compare the two exchanges directly in Kalshi vs Polymarket. You can also read our Kalshi guide.
Polymarket for football and US sports
US sports game markets usually map neatly to moneylines, which is why NFL and NBA rows tend to be the cleanest comparisons. For football (soccer), check whether a market is a three-way result or a two-way "team to win" question, because the draw changes everything about the price. Margus only shows mapped outcomes, but the contract text always has the final word.
Play responsibly
Trading and betting carry real risk of loss. Set a budget, take breaks and never chase losses. Help and support links are on our responsible gaming page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Polymarket a sportsbook?
No. Polymarket US is an exchange where participants trade event contracts with each other. The CFTC lists QCX LLC, doing business as Polymarket US, as a designated contract market. A sportsbook sets its own odds; on Polymarket US the price comes from other traders' orders.
How much are Polymarket US fees?
Polymarket US publishes a taker fee formula of Fee = 0.0695 x contracts x price x (1 - price) for standard markets, so fees are highest near 50 cents and lowest near the extremes. Its docs say makers can receive rebates by volume tier, and some markets use different coefficients. Check the live fee page before trading because the schedule changes.
What does a 45 cent Polymarket price mean?
Roughly a 45% implied probability, or decimal odds of about 2.22 (American +122, fractional about 6/5), before fees. It also reflects liquidity, spread and the exact resolution rules.
Is Polymarket available in the UK or Europe?
Margus tracks Polymarket US, the CFTC-regulated US exchange. Access to any Polymarket product depends on your location and the operator's current eligibility rules. Margus does not confirm eligibility, so check the operator's terms and your local rules.
Why does Polymarket disagree with sportsbook odds?
Different traders, liquidity, fees, settlement rules and update speeds. Sportsbook prices include a margin (vig), while exchange prices reflect the gap between buyers and sellers. The Margus table shows where those differences currently sit.
Is the Margus table a live quote?
No. It shows the latest stored prices for mapped events. Confirm the current price, available size and contract rules on Polymarket US before acting.
Can I bet or trade through Margus?
No. Margus is a comparison and research site. It does not take bets, hold funds or place trades.