A dated, neutral read on ForecastEx from South Dakota, where no formal state action against prediction markets is on record. ForecastEx is a CFTC regulated exchange reached through Interactive Brokers, listing economic, climate and political forecast contracts, and is generally open to eligible residents. Information, not advice. As of March 2026.
Last reviewed 19 March 2026 · Status as of March 2026 · Information, not legal advice
ForecastEx LLC is a designated contract market and a derivatives clearing organization, designated and registered by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in June 2024, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Interactive Brokers Group. It lists Forecast Contracts on economic indicators such as the unemployment rate, the consumer price index and gross domestic product, on climate indicators such as temperature and atmospheric carbon dioxide, and on political outcomes. Because that registration is federal, the venue is open to eligible United States residents in all 50 states, South Dakota included, for those categories. South Dakota tightly regulates traditional gambling through its Commission on Gaming, with casino gaming concentrated in Deadwood and tribal gaming under compact, but that framework does not reach federally listed event contracts, and reputable trackers record no formal South Dakota action against prediction market operators as of March 2026. ForecastEx briefly offered sports contracts in late 2025 and then withdrew them, so it does not currently list sports. Most retail access runs through an Interactive Brokers account. A contract price is an implied probability, not a prediction, and the contracts carry a real risk of loss.
As of March 2026, ForecastEx is generally available to eligible South Dakota residents aged 18 or older through its federal CFTC designation, reached via an Interactive Brokers account. South Dakota has no formal state action against prediction markets on record, and ForecastEx lists economic, climate and political forecast contracts and does not currently offer sports. Confirm the current position before you act.
South Dakota runs a strict gambling framework, with commercial casino gaming concentrated in Deadwood and tribal gaming under compact, overseen by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming. That framework governs traditional betting, not federally listed event contracts, which are governed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission rather than the State of South Dakota. Reputable trackers record no formal South Dakota action against prediction market operators as of March 2026, so the federal designation that ForecastEx holds is what governs access for a South Dakota resident.
ForecastEx is a designated contract market and a derivatives clearing organization, designated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in June 2024 and owned by Interactive Brokers Group. Its market set is economic indicators such as the unemployment rate, the consumer price index and gross domestic product, climate indicators such as temperature and atmospheric carbon dioxide, and political outcomes. ForecastEx self certified sports event contracts in late 2025 and offered contracts on NFL and NBA game winners for a short period before withdrawing them, so it does not currently list sports, which keeps it clear of the disputes that target sports event contracts in other states.
The access route is the practical step. There is no separate retail deposit funnel at the ForecastEx site, and most retail traders reach Forecast Contracts through an Interactive Brokers account, so opening an account with Interactive Brokers is effectively the prerequisite for a South Dakota resident. Available does not mean simple or low risk. The contracts settle on real economic and climate data and can lose you money. A price is an implied probability, not our prediction, and we do not tip results. Confirm the current contracts and funding steps on ForecastEx and Interactive Brokers, and read our South Dakota legality guide, before you act.
These are federally listed United States venues you can compare ForecastEx against. The list appears after the information and shows no paid placements. ForecastEx lists economic, climate and political forecast contracts and does not currently offer sports. Scores are illustrative editorial examples. Confirm the current position and your eligibility before acting.
A clear regulator does not make any contract safe to over trade. Prediction markets and event contracts can lose you money. Trade only what you can afford to lose, never to chase a loss, and never with borrowed money. If it stops feeling like a choice, step back. In the United States you can call or text 1-800-GAMBLER or visit ncpgambling.org. You must be 18+ or the legal age in your region.
As of March 2026, yes, generally. ForecastEx is a CFTC designated contract market and clearing organization, available to eligible South Dakota residents in all 50 states for economic, climate and political forecast contracts. Access is generally through an Interactive Brokers account. This is general information, not legal advice.
No. South Dakota tightly regulates traditional gambling, but that governs state licensed betting, not federally listed event contracts, which fall under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Reputable trackers record no formal South Dakota action against prediction market operators as of March 2026. Confirm the current position before relying on it.
Not currently. ForecastEx self certified and briefly offered sports event contracts in late 2025, then withdrew them, and lists economic, climate and political forecast contracts as of March 2026. Confirm what is listed on the platform before acting.
Most retail access runs through an Interactive Brokers account, since ForecastEx is a wholly owned subsidiary of Interactive Brokers Group and has no separate retail deposit funnel. A South Dakota resident would generally open or use an Interactive Brokers account and trade Forecast Contracts from there. Confirm the current steps before you act.
Forecast Contracts on economic indicators such as the unemployment rate, the consumer price index and gross domestic product, on climate indicators such as temperature and atmospheric carbon dioxide, and on political outcomes. There are no sports markets at present. Each contract carries a real risk of loss.
The position above rests on the federal designation of ForecastEx, its own contract rules, the Interactive Brokers access route, and the absence of South Dakota state action. Confirm it yourself before you act, because the rules in this area change.
Status as of March 2026. General information, not legal advice.