Frequently asked questions

What is a prediction market?

A market where the price of a contract is the crowd's estimate of how likely something is. A side trading at 70p means the market believes that outcome has about a 70% chance. If it happens the contract pays 100p, if not it pays nothing.

Is this legal in the UK?

Yes. versus is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission under account 101143, which you can check on the public register. Operating these markets in Great Britain without that licence is not legal, which is why several international platforms block British users instead.

Is Polymarket available in the UK?

No. Polymarket blocks UK users, and so does Kalshi. Neither is licensed here. Reaching them through a VPN puts you outside both platforms' terms and outside any UK protection, so if something goes wrong with your money there is no regulator to go to.

versus exists to be the version of that product you can actually use here.

What does it cost?

A transaction fee of 2% of your stake, added on top of the stake, with no cap. It is displayed before you confirm a trade. Deposits and withdrawals are free within normal limits.

Can I sell before the event finishes?

Yes. While a market is open you can close a position at the current price and take the difference. You are not locked in until settlement.

How much can I lose?

Exactly what you put into a position, and no more. There is no leverage and no margin, so a losing position cannot cost you more than it cost to open.

That is a cap on the downside, not a promise of an upside. Losing the full amount is an ordinary outcome, not a rare one.

Why do I have to verify my identity?

Anti money laundering law requires it, and our licence makes it a condition of paying out. You send a photo of a government ID and a selfie, and it usually clears in minutes.

How long do withdrawals take?

They return to the method you deposited with, once your identity is verified. Timings depend on that method and are shown in the app.

Do you take cryptocurrency?

No. Deposits and withdrawals are ordinary money. There is no wallet to set up, no token to buy and no chain to bridge.

Do you take credit cards?

No. Licensed operators in Great Britain are not allowed to accept them.

How is this different from a bookmaker?

A bookmaker sets a price and you take it or leave it. Here the price is set by people trading against each other, it moves while the market is open, and you can sell your position back before the result. Both sit under Gambling Commission licensing, but the mechanics differ.

Which devices does it run on?

iPhone through the App Store, Android as a direct download from our site, and the web app in a browser.

Where do I set limits or take a break?

Inside the app under Safer Play: deposit limits, loss limits, reality checks, time out and self exclusion, plus GAMSTOP.

Read more: how versus works, about versus, the blog, the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy.

18+ only. Trade responsibly. BeGambleAware.org and GAMSTOP.