Robinhood Markets rolled out pre-set betting combinations for NFL games last week. The fintech company announced the move at its San Francisco keynote event.
JB Mackenzie serves as VP and GM of Futures and International at Robinhood. He said the new product has the same “structural look or feel as a parlay.” That puts it in direct competition with established sportsbook operators.
The company acquired a 90% stake in Miami International Holdings’ MIAX Derivatives Exchange last month. Susquehanna International Group joined as a partner in that deal. This infrastructure supports Robinhood’s prediction marketplace operations.
Why Robinhood’s Approach Differs from Traditional Books
The platform lets users bet on game outcomes, total points, and spreads through preset combinations. But it’s packaged as event contracts rather than traditional wagers. This matters because Robinhood uses derivatives exchange infrastructure instead of state gambling licenses.
Robinhood plans to expand beyond sports entirely. The company said it’ll offer markets on economic data and other non-sports events soon. That separates them from pure-play sportsbooks focused only on athletic competitions.
The strategy gives Robinhood multiple paths for growth. Sports betting might draw users in, but economic prediction markets could become equally important. Traditional sportsbooks can’t easily pivot to those markets.
What Features Launch Now and Later
Users can currently place prop bets on individual player performance. The options include whether a player scores a touchdown during any game.
They can also bet over/under on passing, receiving, and rushing yards. Real-time betting on player performance went live with the announcement. That matches what DraftKings and FanDuel already offer their customers.
The bigger change comes in early 2026. Users will create custom combinations of up to 10 outcomes across any NFL slate. That’s when the product truly mirrors traditional parlay betting. Robinhood said it’ll extend these features to leagues beyond the NFL soon.
How This Fits the Wider Prediction Market Trend
Kalshi notified the CFTC on December 18 about college athlete transfer portal markets. That’s the same regulatory body overseeing Robinhood’s derivatives exchange.
The NCAA pushed back hard. President Charlie Baker said the organisation “vehemently opposes college sports prediction markets.” He argued they’d pressure student athletes and threaten competition integrity. Kalshi’s proposed markets would cover NCAA Division I football and basketball players specifically.
The timing suggests prediction platforms see sports as a major growth area. Robinhood’s entry raises the stakes considerably. They bring a massive retail user base that already trusts the platform for stock trading.
Converting even a small percentage to sports betting could reshape the market quickly. The company’s existing app infrastructure means zero learning curve for current users.
