Editorial standards & review methodology
How we evaluate prediction-market platforms, fact-check content, keep pages fresh, and disclose affiliate relationships in plain English.
Quick answer
Every page on this site is scored against six criteria — accuracy, primary sourcing, freshness, disclosure, usefulness, and compliance — and re-reviewed at least monthly against live exchange data and regulator filings.
The scoring rubric
Every platform on the site is scored on the same six criteria. Weights are fixed and public. Commission rates do not enter the formula.
30%
Regulatory clarity
Is the platform legal for Florida users? CFTC-designated contract markets (Kalshi) score highest. Unlicensed venues are excluded outright, not ranked lower.
20%
Liquidity & market depth
24-hour and open-interest volume across categories we care about — politics, sports, macro, weather. We check order-book tightness on 3+ live markets before scoring.
15%
Florida availability & fit
Full FL access, USD rails without a VPN, and coverage of markets Floridians actually search — hurricane landfall, Dolphins/Heat/Bucs, statewide elections.
15%
Fees & payout mechanics
Per-contract trading fee, deposit/withdrawal cost and speed, and settlement reliability. Formula-based fees are modeled at $10, $50, and $500 fills.
10%
UX & platform reliability
Time-to-first-trade for a new user, mobile experience, KYC friction, and uptime during high-volume events (Fed decisions, storm landfall, game-day).
10%
Editorial trust & transparency
How clearly the platform communicates rules, settlement sources, and disputes. Public communication during outages counts.
What the score means
| Score | Label | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | Category leader | Best-in-class on all six criteria. Would recommend without caveats. |
| 4.0–4.9 | Strong | Excellent on regulation and one or more edges (liquidity, fees, UX). Minor gaps. |
| 3.0–3.9 | Solid | Legitimate and usable, but a clear tier below the leader. Fine as a second account. |
| 2.0–2.9 | Weak | Real limitations — thin liquidity, high fees, or restricted markets. Only if there's a specific reason. |
| < 2.0 | Do not use | Fails on regulation or trust. We do not list these platforms. |
How we fact-check
We fund every platform we review
Before a platform makes any ranked list, we open an account with our own money, place real trades across at least three market categories, and test both deposit and withdrawal end-to-end.
We cite primary sources
Legality claims link to CFTC press releases, court filings, and operator terms — not to other affiliate sites. When the law is unsettled, we say so plainly.
We update aggressively
Every guide and review shows a "Last updated" date. Top pages are reviewed at least every 30 days; legality pages within 48 hours of a material CFTC or state action.
We correct openly
Corrections are noted at the top of the page. Report an error: editorial@floridapredictionmarkets.com.
Affiliate disclosure — plain English
We earn a commission when a reader signs up to a platform through one of our links. Commissions are paid by the platform's marketing budget, never by the reader, and never change our rankings. Sponsored placements are labeled #sponsored and use rel="sponsored". Full detail: affiliate disclosure.
Who reviews the site
All rankings, reviews, and legality analysis are written or reviewed by Catie Di Stefano, who has 15 years in regulated gambling — including a New Jersey DGE vendor license engagement with Hard Rock and a Next.io New York panel on Florida iCasino (2022). Full credentials on the About page.