Lynnae Williams Journalist
Lynnae is a journalist covering the intersection of technology, culture, and gambling. She has more than five years of experience as a writer and editor, with bylines at SlashGear and MakeUseOf. On the iGaming side,...
Read Full BioIn an unexpected development in the rivalry between two of the biggest names in prediction markets, Kalshi and Polymarket are giving away free groceries in New York City. In a series of high-profile “grocery takeovers,” both platforms have turned to philanthropy to win over the hearts and minds of those who call the Big Apple home.
The skirmish between the two prediction markets began on February 3, when Kalshi executed a “surprise takeover” of Westside Market at 84 3rd Avenue. While Kalshi had announced the event on X a day earlier, many viewed it as a way to get out in front of a longer-running initiative planned by its chief competitor, Polymarket.
Kalshi Kicks Off Grocery Giveaway With Takeover
Kalshi’s one-day free grocery giveaway ran from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET yesterday, and by all accounts it was a success. New Yorkers turned out in droves to take advantage of Kalshi’s grocery gambit, which covered the first $50 of every shopper’s bill during a three-hour window.
Kalshi co-founder Tarek Mansour framed the move as a way for the company to give back to the community. “Free groceries for everyone. The winter has been cold and difficult for many. We hope this helps a little. New York has given Kalshi so much. It’s only fair for Kalshi to give to New York,” he said in a post on LinkedIn.
At the halfway mark, Mansour said that “Thousands have already picked up their free Kalshi groceries!” He went on to say that the company’s event had “inspired other companies to keep up the initiative,” something he hopes will continue.
Polymarket Counters With Free Grocery Pop-Up, Food Bank Donation
Not to be outdone, Polymarket announced its own flagship project as Kalshi’s giveaway was already underway. The company branded it “The Polymarket” and described it as New York’s first entirely free grocery store. As part of the initiative, the prediction market donated $1 million to the Food Bank for New York City and encouraged the public to contribute through the charity’s campaign page.
“The Polymarket is fully stocked. No purchase required. We’re open to all New Yorkers. A real, physical investment in our community,” the company posted on X.
The Polymarket is scheduled to open at noon on February 12, and the company says it’s “open to all New Yorkers. A real, physical investment in our community.” While Polymarket bills its grocery store as permanent, it’s really a temporary pop-up that’ll be open for five days.
Strategically Timed Charm Offensive
Both Kalshi and Polymarket have portrayed their free grocery initiatives as a way to give back to the community. However, it’s hard not to look at what they’re doing with an ounce of skepticism, given the growing political and regulatory attention prediction markets are facing in New York and beyond.
On January 7, the proposed “oversight and regulation of activity for contracts linked to events,” better known as the ORACLE Act, was once again referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection in the New York State Assembly for consideration.
Assemblymember Clyde Vanel introduced Assembly Bill A9251, which would classify event contracts as “unlicensed gambling” in November 2025. If passed, it would ban some of the industry’s most controversial and lucrative markets, including:
- Athletic Events: A ban on individual athletic event contracts, effectively targeting the sports-adjacent markets that have become central to platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket.
- Political Elections: Prohibition on federal, statewide, and local election contracts.
- Catastrophic Occurrences and Death: Restrictions on contracts tied to natural disasters, war, or the death of individuals.
The bill outlines serious penalties to enforce the ban on these markets, including fines of up to $1 million per day, depending on the circumstances.
Beyond legislation, New York Attorney General Letitia James turned up the heat on prediction markets ahead of the Super Bowl, issuing a consumer alert on February 2, warning the city’s residents that prediction markets are nothing more than “bets masquerading as ‘event contracts.’”
James pointed out that they operate without the safety measures required for licensed sportsbooks, such as age verification and help for problem gamblers. She also cautioned prediction market operators, saying the “conduct, advertisement, and promotion of unlicensed sports wagering” violates state law and could lead to civil or criminal liability.
Against that backdrop, Kalshi and Polymarket appear to be using highly visible, consumer-facing strategies to market their businesses as civic-minded and community-oriented, even as they face ongoing litigation and their core products remain the subject of debate among regulators, lawmakers, and state officials.
Prototyping Campaign Promise of New Mayoral Administration
The choice of free groceries doesn’t seem to be an accident. Instead, the form of corporate outreach Kalshi and Polymarket have chosen seems to be a direct nod to the city’s leadership.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani made “city-owned, non-profit grocery stores” a central plank of his campaign’s affordability agenda. Mamdani’s vision includes the city buying at wholesale to undercut private retailers in underserved areas. Polymarket’s messaging tapped into this political sentiment.
“Free groceries. Free markets. Built for the people who power New York. We’ll see you at The Polymarket’s grand opening next week. We love you New York City,” the company said as part of a thread on X.
With the temporary launch of their own versions of this model, Polymarket and Kalshi are basically prototyping one of the Mayor’s signature policies. Polymarket already found success when its bettors correctly predicted Mamdani’s victory, giving him 90% odds despite mixed polling. Now the platform is trying to increase its political capital in the city.
