How to Bet on the Oscars: Oscars Betting Sites, Legal States and Betting Guide 2026

Choosing an Academy Awards betting site

If you're looking for where to bet on the Oscars, then we've got you covered. When it comes to picking the best Oscars betting sites, there are numerous things to take into account. Below, we dive into what we believe are the most important factors.

Oscars betting availability

You can use the Kalshi promo code, DraftKings promo code, FanDuel promo code, BetMGM promo code, Caesars promo code, and bet365 promo code to get the best Oscars odds in the US. Not every state offers betting markets on award shows, but you can make predictions on Kalshi from anywhere in the U.S.

Oscars betting markets

Variety is key when it comes to Oscars betting, and all of the legal options offer plenty. The four major sportsbooks that offer Oscars odds each offer odds in all 23 categories. They even offer some Oscars prop bets.

The sportsbooks offer odds that are typical for sporting events. For example, "Anora" had Best Picture odds of -200 at FanDuel leading up to the 2025 ceremony. This means you'd have to wager $20 to win $10. 

Payout speeds

After you win, you want to make sure you're paid out promptly. The best sportsbooks all have reliable and timely payout options. If one of your predictions is correct, then you'll have no problem cashing out and receiving your winnings shortly thereafter.

User interface

You want to be comfortable with the user interface you're using to place Oscars bets. While many sports fans will be familiar with the interfaces of DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365, that may not be true if you're new to online betting in general. Thankfully, most app interfaces are super easy to learn, and the search function makes it convenient to find exactly what you're looking for.

Legal states for trading and betting on the Oscars

With prediction market apps available across the U.S., movie lovers now have even more ways to make predictions related to the Oscars. For example, Kalshi, which is available in all states, allows users to trade contracts related to the Oscars against other users. If your position is correct, then you'll receive earnings depending on what you purchased your contract for.

Not only does Kalshi offer significantly more markets than traditional sportsbooks, but it's also more widely available. While most major sportsbooks will let you see Best Picture odds, Best Actor odds, Best Actress odds, and more no matter what state you're in, only seven states allow users to make wagers on the Oscars via sportsbooks.

• Arizona sportsbook promos
• Indiana sportsbook promos
• Kansas sportsbook promos
• Louisiana sportsbook promos
• Massachusetts sportsbook promos
• Michigan sportsbook promos
• New Jersey sportsbook promos

Types of Oscars bets

The two main types of Oscars bets are picking a winner and prop bets. We dive into both below.

Oscars betting markets

Picking a winner for the Oscars may seem easy, but upsets do happen from time to time. At the 78th Academy Awards "Crash" defeated "Brokeback Mountain" despite the latter winning every precursor and looking like a shoo-in to claim victory. 

If you think you have a read on a category as wide-open as Best Live Action Short, or you're convinced that an upset is brewing in Best Actress or Best Actor, then you can place a wager on your preferred pick to win.

Familiarize yourself with all the nominees with our Oscars ballots.

Oscars prop bets

In addition to picking a winner, you can wager on Oscars prop bets. This can include categories such as "Which movie will win the most Oscars", "How many Oscars will ____ win?", and more. These props tend to have better payouts than the bigger Oscars categories, so doing your research could result in big wins.

Academy Awards betting trends

Sometimes the best way to predict the future is to look at the past. Since 2017, eight of the nine Best Picture winners have also won the Producer of the Year Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture at the PGA Awards, including last year's winner, "One Battle After Another."

The DGA Awards have been even more accurate when it comes to predicting the Best Director Oscar. Since 2003, 21 of the 23 directors to win the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film award went on to win Best Director. In 2026, Paul Thomas Anderson won both for "One Battle After Another."

The guild that has proven to be the least predictive is the Screen Actors Guild. Four of the last eight SAG winners for Best Actress lost at the Oscars. That said, the last ten Supporting Actor winners have also won the SAG award. For Supporting Actress, 16 of the last 17 winners also won the SAG. And seven of the last nine Best Actor winners also won the SAG. The only ones who didn't were Anthony Hopkins in "The Father" and 2025 SAG winner, Timothée Chalamet, who lost to Adrien Brody at the Oscars. 

Oscars betting strategies

Oscar betting strategies vary from person to person. Since the Oscars are voted on, rather than a sporting event where winners are determined by play on the field, their is bound to be plenty of subjectivity involved in picking winners. Don't let your own subjectivity cloud your judgment when betting. Here are some of our best Oscars betting tips.

Watch the movies

You don't need to watch all the movies to have an idea of what is going to win, but you should have an understanding of what movies are up for Oscars in what categories. However, if you fall in love or end up detesting a certain movie, you may find your feelings getting in the way of a well-researched bet. Just like you shouldn't always bet on your favorite sports team, don't just vote on your favorite movie.

Understand the categories

There was a time when the Oscars awarded both Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing. Those two categories have been combined into one category (Best Sound), but there is still some confusion regarding certain categories. Make sure you understand the difference between best Visual Effects and Production Design before placing a vote on either. The same goes for Best Makeup & Hairstyling and Best Costume Design.

Track during awards season

There are so many awards given out during award season, so it can be difficult to know which movie truly has an advantage. The key is learning which awards are actually important and good predictors of what's to come. For example, since 2004, 19 of the 22 Actors who won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Lead Actor went on to win the Oscar for Best Actor. The Directors Guild of America is just as predictive, as 11 of the last 12 to win Best Director at the DGA went on to win Best Director at the Oscars.

Follow the news

Tabloids have their own agendas, but there is a lot to be gained from understanding the news. For example, Emilia Perez led last year's Oscars with 13 nominations, but bad press, especially surrounding lead actress Karla Sofia Gascon, all but tanked the film's chances in most categories. Additionally, Adrien Brody and The Brutalist came under fire for AI usage, but Brody still ultimately won Best Actor.