Kalshi and Polymarket compete for New York customers with "free food benefits"

Prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket are fiercely competing for New York City users, both using "free food" as a customer acquisition tactic. Reports indicate that Kalshi gave away $50 worth of free food to users on Tuesday to attract more participants to its real-world event prediction products. Almost simultaneously, its main competitor, Polymarket, announced plans to open "New York's first free grocery store" on February 12th, promoting it through social media. Analysts believe that both promotions, occurring on the eve of the Super Bowl, reflect the direct competition between the two companies for user attention and betting volume. At the same time, this type of giveaway marketing also addresses the growing cost of living pressure in the New York area, an issue repeatedly emphasized in the campaign of newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. (bloomberg)