Combined industry volume reaches $25.6B for the week, the highest weekly total in the PM Pulse series

Prediction-market trading volume totaled $25.6 billion in the Oct. 5–11 week, rising 4.6% to a record for The PM Pulse’s tracking series, according to sportsbookreview.com. The weekly snapshot showed strong football activity, but combo contracts supplied much of the growth.

Football and combos drive activity

The PM Pulse’s Oct. 13 report, published in partnership with Aldrin Research, put Kalshi’s standalone football volume at $1.5 billion, up 12% from the previous week. Its standalone sports volume reached $3.8 billion, a 5% increase. Polymarket US reported $2.8 billion in weekly volume, compared with $734 million for DraftKings Predictions and $672 million for Novig.

Kalshi’s combos—contracts combining multiple outcomes in a structure similar to sportsbook parlays—generated $12.4 billion, or 65.3% of its weekly volume. According to The PM Pulse figures cited by sportsbookreview.com, combos also contributed 71.2% of the industry’s week-over-week volume increase. With combos excluded, Kalshi’s weekly market share declined to 63.8% from 65.1%.

The Oct. 10–11 weekend contributed approximately $10.52 billion across nine exchanges, including $5.68 billion on Sunday, according to DeFi Rate’s tracker. Kalshi accounted for approximately $7.88 billion and Polymarket US for $1.22 billion. Separately, Aldrin’s figures showed consecutive daily records for Kalshi: $3.91 billion on Saturday and $3.96 billion on Sunday.

The measurement behind the record

The totals require a distinction between contract value and customer spending. Reported notional volume commonly uses a contract’s $1 settlement value rather than its purchase price. Buying 100 contracts for 10 cents each therefore costs $10 before fees while registering $100 in notional volume—a difference particularly relevant to low-priced combos.

Tracking methods also produce different totals. A TickerTracker analysis reported by The Straight estimated weekend volume at $10.4 billion, according to sportsbookreview.com, rather than DeFi Rate’s approximately $10.52 billion. Neither figure measures customer deposits, actual spending or operator revenue.

Looking ahead, Macquarie forecasts $187 billion in industry taker volume for 2026, versus approximately $22 billion in 2025—a measure distinct from the weekend’s headline notional volume. Analyst Chad Beynon expects sports to drive growth through year-end, with November’s midterm elections potentially adding political trading. Macquarie also named DraftKings and FanDuel as potential beneficiaries of expansion into additional jurisdictions, according to sportsbookreview.com.

What it means for prediction markets

• The record is specific to the series: The $25.6 billion weekly total is the highest recorded by The PM Pulse, not a measure of customer spending or industry revenue.
• Contract mix matters: Combos supplied 71.2% of weekly industry volume growth, making their contribution central to interpreting the headline increase.
• Market-share comparisons need consistent definitions: Kalshi’s share excluding combos fell even as its standalone football and sports volumes increased.
• Forecasts are not directly comparable: Macquarie’s taker-volume projection and the reported notional totals use different measures.