Kalshi and Polymarket traders see weeks to go before Washington reopens
As the federal government shutdown drags toward the one-month mark, prediction markets are putting real money behind the odds of a long standoff, and it’s not looking short.
Kalshi Forecast: 44 Days and Counting
According to Kalshi, a CFTC-regulated prediction exchange, traders are now forecasting a 44-day shutdown, a figure that’s steadily climbed since mid-September. The market gives an 86% chance that the shutdown surpasses 35 days, officially breaking the previous record.
Chances of it extending past 40 days sit near 56%, while the odds of a shutdown lasting past November 15 (roughly 60 days) are still a solid 21%, showing that traders believe Congress may not reach a deal until well into the holiday season.
Polymarket Shows Similar Skepticism
Over on Polymarket, the world’s largest blockchain-based prediction platform, traders have the most likely resolution date pegged around November 16 or later, with a 40% probability that the shutdown continues beyond mid-month.
Short-term optimism remains scarce, with contracts covering potential deals by October 31–November 3 trade at just 8%, while the November 4–7 window sits at 28%. In short, traders don’t see Washington finding common ground soon.
Wyoming’s Growing Footprint in Political Prediction
This isn’t the first time Antlers Arch has tracked how prediction markets provide a unique window into both politics and opportunity. Earlier this month, we covered how Polymarket opened trading on Wyoming’s next governor’s race, with Harriet Hageman leading the early field by 26 points on Kalshi.
From shutdown forecasts to state elections, these platforms allow participants to put money where their analysis is, effectively turning political forecasting into a tradable market.
AntlersArch founder and the voice behind Teton Tattle.
