- Rumors suggest Kalshi is pursuing $5 billion valuation
- Company could use equity as currency for sports betting-related acquisitions
- Kalshi is believed to have approached a sports-centric rival in recent weeks
Last month, reports surfaced that prediction markets Goliath Kalshi is considering a financing round that would value the company at around $5 billion, or more than double the $2 billion it was valued at following a $185 million Series C funding round in June. Some experts believe the derivatives exchange operator could use its surging multiple to get acquisitive in the sports betting realm.
In a new report, Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) said it expects Kalshi will pursue acquisitions to shore up its sports wagering capabilities. The research firm lays out a case for the event contract purveyor to purse back-end, technology-focused deals perhaps more so than client-facing purchases.
Top priority would be pricing/market-making firms that can deliver prop and same-game parlay (SGP) liquidity, alongside sports betting expertise—an area where Kalshi remains thin, in our view,” observes the research firm.
To this point in the 2025 NFL season, reviews are mixed as to whether Kalshi is offering better pricing on money line bets and totals than DraftKings (NASDAQ: DKNG) and FanDuel parent Flutter Entertainment (NYSE: FLUT). The consensus in the analyst community appears to be that are select NFL games on which pricing is superior, but broadly speaking, traditional gaming companies are offering better odds.
Parlays Could Portend Need for Kalshi Acquisition
Kalshi recently rolled out football SGPs, but volume on those bets has been low prompting industry observers to note the prediction market still has a long way to go to catch-up to the likes of DraftKings and FanDuel on the parlay front.
Multi-leg wagers, particularly those of the same-game variety, are highly popular with retail bettors and are profit-generators for sportsbooks, implying Kalshi is likely to pursue expansion on that frontier and that push could compel the company to pursue deals that enhance its market-making competencies, according to EKG.
“If we’re Kalshi, we’d leverage the low cost of capital and use stock as currency to move aggressively on pricing expertise,” said the research firm.
EKG didn’t mention specific companies that would make for credible Kalshi targets, but it opines that prospective targets may be leery of accepting Kalshi equity at what are “elevated multiples.”
Kalshi Mentioned In One Takeover Rumor
Kalshi recently appeared at the epicenter of some mergers and acquisitions speculation. Last month, reports surfaced that both that company and rival Polymarket poked around about possibly acquiring competitor Novig.
Privately held Novig is runs a peer-to-peer prediction market focusing exclusively on sports so it would check the box of bolstering Kalshi’s sports footprint while potentially being additive on the technology.
However, rumors indicate multiple suitors beyond Kalshi and Polymarket may be interested in Novig, indicating there could be ample competition for the firm. Additionally, it’s not clear if Novig is actively shopping itself or that it’s a willing seller.
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