Kalshi and Polymarket are competing for New York users over the "free food benefits" program.

Odaily Planet Daily reports that prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket are engaged in fierce competition around New York users, both using “free food” as a means of customer acquisition.

It is reported that on Tuesday, Kalshi distributed $50 worth of free food benefits to users to attract more participants to its real-world event prediction products. Almost simultaneously, its main competitor Polymarket announced plans to open the “New York’s First Free Grocery Store” on February 12 and promoted it via social media.

Analysts believe that both promotional activities took place on the eve of the Super Bowl, reflecting a direct confrontation between the two companies in vying for user attention and betting volume. At the same time, this type of welfare marketing also leverages the rising cost of living issues in the New York area, a topic repeatedly emphasized during the campaign of the newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. (Bloomberg)