Scratch Match

What is Scratch Match?

Before Patrick Mahomes laced up his cleats for his 2026-2027 NFL regular-season debut, US prediction markets had already cleared a historic benchmark for the opening week of the season.

Two operators alone – Kalshi and Polymarket – topped the combined $1 billion mark in NFL trading activity over the first six days of Week 1, according to numerous measures this week. During the period, Kalshi recorded NFL volume of $983.4 million, according to DeFi Rate, earning the pole position by a large margin. Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs thrashed the Denver Broncos 31-10 on Monday Night Football, capping the largest week for prediction markets ever.

Even before the primetime matchup in Kansas City, it became abundantly clear that the industry would shatter previous marks for weekly activity. The AFC West showdown bolstered the already robust totals. Overall, volume for the week hit a record $15.9 billion, according to Bank of America, up 16% from a week earlier.

About Scratch Match

“Every other finding – portfolio overload, fragmented data, reactive workflow, no behavioural signal – resolves here, in revenue that walks out without notice, without warning and without anyone getting the chance to intervene.” 

There was also strong interest in prioritisation tools, with 75% placing high value (8/10 or above) on daily prioritised action guidance for each player. 

However, 38% expressed concern that adopting AI might reduce the personal, human touch in VIP management. 

About Scratch Match

This year, the team is responding with a new initiative, Hall 7. The launch of Hall 7 represents a stronger platform to drive the next phase of iGaming innovation.

Tech Race in Warsaw this September and Hall 7 at ICE in Barcelona this January are set to become sequential chapters of the same conversation. CTOs, CSOs and data leaders can expect to pick up where they left off four months later.

Both events are betting on the same idea proving useful for the industry. Getting a room full of exactly the right people together beats chasing them individually across the globe.