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DraftKings moved ahead of FanDuel in Week 4 real-money gaming app downloads across the U.S. and Canada during the first month of the 2026 NFL season, according to Sensor Tower data compiled by Citizens JMP Securities. The broader takeaway, though, was that prediction-market platforms captured more of the download growth than either traditional sportsbook.
DraftKings accounted for 12% of Week 4 downloads, compared with 8% for FanDuel. Across all real-money gaming apps, downloads reached 2.1 million for the week, up 24% year over year.
Prediction markets outpaced the top sportsbooks
The same data showed Kalshi with 32% of Week 4 downloads and Polymarket with 11%. That left DraftKings second among the operators highlighted in the report, while FanDuel ranked fourth.
Through the first four weeks of the NFL season, total downloads were up 22%, but the source report said much of that increase came from prediction-market platforms rather than traditional sportsbook apps.
For players, that suggests the early NFL-season competition is no longer just a DraftKings-versus-FanDuel story. User attention is also shifting toward newer real-money platforms that sit adjacent to the sportsbook market.
New York betting volume rose, while hold swung week to week
The report also pointed to strong betting activity in New York early in the season. Sportsbooks there accepted $483.3 million in wagers during the first week of September, then $594.6 million and $611.1 million over the next two weeks. Handle then eased to $573.4 million for the week ending Sept. 27.
Operator hold was less consistent, coming in at about 9.3% in the week ending Sept. 6, then 2.9%, 6.3%, and 8.5% over the following weeks.
That volatility came during a stretch in which favorites went 28-34-2 against the spread through four weeks. Teams getting at least half of all bets went 25-36-2 against the spread, and publicly backed teams were just 2-10 ATS in primetime games.
Parlays remain central to sportsbook revenue
Even with changing app-download trends, parlays remain a major part of the NFL betting business. Preseason projections from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming cited in the report said parlays are expected to account for more than 40% of NFL betting handle and potentially as much as 75% of sportsbook revenue.
What to watch next is whether prediction-market apps keep taking share as the NFL season continues, or whether traditional sportsbooks regain ground deeper into the schedule. As always, players should treat betting and other real-money gaming as entertainment and gamble responsibly.
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Source: As reported by Ian Valentino.
