The 2026 Oscar nominations are in and the odds are available for anyone interested in betting on this years Academy Awards. The 2026 edition of the awards show is set to take place this Sunday, March 15th at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. The show will be hosted by Conan O’Brien for the second consecutive year.
On this page we show the odds for some of the major categories, explain the options Americans have for betting on the Oscars, and finish with a step by step guide to getting started.
Where Can Americans Bet On The Oscars?
Betting on the Oscars works differently than betting on sports, because most state regulators do not allow wagers on awards shows. Here are the main options.
Prediction Markets
Prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket let you buy and sell contracts on the outcome of the Oscars and other awards shows. Instead of betting against a sportsbook, you trade with other users, and the price of a contract reflects the market’s view of how likely an outcome is. These platforms operate under federal oversight from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rather than state gambling law, which is why they are available in most states.
Licensed Sportsbooks
A few states, including New Jersey and Indiana, allow their licensed sportsbooks to offer odds on the Oscars. You must be 21 or older and physically located in the state to place a bet.
Offshore Sportsbooks
Offshore sportsbooks are licensed outside the United States and accept bets from American bettors. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, which means American bettors who use them have no state regulator to turn to if there is a dispute over a bet or a withdrawal.
We also have a guide to Oscars betting from California.
2026 Oscars Betting Odds
The odds below were taken a couple weeks before the Oscars.
**The odds below are from March 10th, 2026.
Best Picture
One Battle After Another (-500) is the favorite to win the coveted best picture award. Sinners (+300) is the other top contender, while the odds also have Hamnet (+2500) with an outside chance. It would be a shock if one of these three films did not win the Best Picture category.
Best Actor
According to the odds the Best Actor award is a two-person race between Michael B. Jordan (Sinners) and Timothee Chalamet (Marty Supreme). Both actors have won one of the notable Best Actor awards leading up to the Oscars with Chalamet winning the Golden Globe in January and Michael B. Jordan winning the Actors Award earlier this month.
Best Actress
The Best Actress category looks like a lock with Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) having odds of -3500 to win the award.
Betting markets are typically available for every award category, along with prop bets on the broadcast itself.
How To Bet On The Oscars – Step By Step
Whichever option you choose, the process of getting started is similar. Here’s a general guide.
Step 1. Choose Your Option
Decide which type of platform fits how you want to bet. Prediction markets are the most widely available way to trade on the Oscars, while licensed sportsbooks in the few states that allow awards betting are an option if you’re located there. Review the options above before signing up.
Step 2. Check The Age and Location Rules
Every platform has its own eligibility requirements. Most prediction markets and DFS apps require you to be at least 18, while licensed sportsbooks require you to be 21 in most states and physically located in the state where they are licensed.
Step 3. Create and Verify Your Account
Sign up with your legal name, date of birth and address. Regulated platforms are required to verify your identity, so you may be asked for the last four digits of your Social Security number or a photo of your ID.
Step 4. Fund Your Account
Deposit using one of the platform’s payment methods, which commonly include debit cards and bank transfers. Check how withdrawals work, and how long they take, before you deposit.
Step 5. Find The Market and Place Your Bet
Navigate to the entertainment or awards section, select the market you’re interested in, and choose your position. Before confirming, check the price or odds and how much you stand to win, using the bet types explained above as a guide.
Step 6. Set Limits
Decide on a budget before the ceremony and stick to it. Most regulated platforms let you set deposit and time limits in your account settings. If betting stops being fun, help is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.
If you’re new to betting, check out our betting guide section for some basic articles that should help you get started.
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