Interactive Brokers Review 2026: Is It Legit?
During our Interactive Brokers review, we found that it provides access to event contracts on three US prediction markets: ForecastEx, Kalshi, and CME Group. However, Interactive Brokers focuses on three major market categories: politics, economics, and climate.
To get started, we claimed a $10 welcome bonus and also discovered a 3.14% APY incentive coupon that accrues daily. In this review, we'll share all we know about Interactive Brokers Prediction Markets, bonuses, usability, mobile app, customer support, security, and more. We'll also answer the most common questions about this three-in-one prediction trading site.
- Features event contracts from three major prediction markets
- Multiple customer support options
- Welcome bonus available
- No sports prediction markets
Interactive Brokers Prediction Markets bonuses
Interactive Brokers Prediction Markets, formerly known as IBKR ForecastTrader, is one of the prediction markets that offer a welcome bonus to trade event contracts. As stated at the beginning, we also found a 3.14% APY incentive coupon for regular traders. Here's how both offers work:
Welcome bonus
After opening an account, IBKR credits your prediction market account with $10. You don't need any promo code to claim this Interactive Brokers bonus. All you have to do is register for an account on the site. Afterward, you can decide to trade any product or withdraw it.
3.14% APY incentive coupon
Through ForecastEx, IBKR Prediction Markets traders can receive a 3.14% APY incentive coupon that accrues daily and is credited monthly. The interest you get is based on the market value of your positions.
Click here for a comprehensive Interactive Brokers bonus review.
Interactive Brokers is easy to use
Despite listing event contracts from three prediction markets, IBKR Prediction Markets lets you access outcomes from each site without having to open separate accounts. Once you register, you can easily search and trade predictions from ForecastEx, Kalshi, and CME Group on the website.
We also didn't find the interface overwhelming. When viewing a market, the available contracts are clearly displayed with the provider's logo shown alongside each listing. This makes it easy to compare contracts from different exchanges and decide which one you prefer.
On the home page, we found our account balance, profile, and the option to switch between dark and light mode. The site organizes event contracts into categories so traders can easily engage the market of their choice. During our Interactive Brokers review, we identified the following categories: Elections, Technology, Financial Markets, Environment, Government, and Economic Indicators.
The search button is clearly positioned at the top, making it easy to find contracts from the three major prediction markets. IBKR Prediction Markets is quite responsive. Pages and market data load quickly, so you can react to market movements without issues.
In terms of aesthetics, you can choose between a dark theme with a black background or a light theme with a white background. Either way, the layout remains easy to browse.
Interactive Brokers provides mobile apps for trading predictions
Interactive Brokers does provide two apps for trading predictions. All we did was download the IBKR Mobile app from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. You can also access the prediction markets interface through the IBKR GlobalTrader app, also available for Android and iOS. This was unlike our experience during our DraftKings Predict review, since that site doesn’t offer a standalone app for trading event contracts.
The IBKR Prediction Markets app interface mirrors that of the desktop site, so you don't have to learn anything new when switching between devices. We found the same features available on mobile, including market categories, event contracts, and account information. The major difference is the screen size. Moreover, the app is just as responsive as the website, so we had a great time trading predictions on the go.
Payment options on Interactive Brokers
Just as we assessed payment options during our Sleeper Markets review, we did the same at Interactive Brokers. IBKR offers different deposit payment options, including Direct ACH Transfer from your account. Plus, there are no fees for this option, and processing may take just one business day or less.
You may also link a new bank account for deposits at IBKR. Here, funding may be instant. However, it may take up to 4 business days, depending on the transfer method your bank supports. A deposit is also free when depositing via your bank.
Moreover, the exchange supports Bank Wire transfers and may process your funds in less than 1 business day. Fees do apply, but they’re determined by your bank. Interactive Brokers allows transfers from Wise Balance, and you can trade within hours using this method.
It's possible to fund your account with Stablecoin, with near-instant processing. Network fees may apply. Besides, tiered fees up to 0.35% of the Stablecoin deposit are requested. Another deposit option is Online Bill Pay, which may take 1 to 6 business days for your transaction to be processed. Online Bill Pay doesn't charge any transaction fee, but your bank may.
During our review, we found that IBKR allows traders to scan a check via the IBKR Mobile Check Deposit method and mail a paper check. These options may take up to seven business days for your funds to be processed. Plus, fees don't apply, though they may vary by bank.
Withdrawal methods at IBKR
For withdrawals, Interactive Brokers supports ACH Transfers, which may take up to 24 hours. With this option, you can enjoy one free withdrawal every month. Subsequently, a $1 fee applies at IBKR. Bank Wire Transfer, Check, and Transfer to Wise Balance are also available for withdrawal, with one free withdrawal per month. However, subsequent withdrawals incur a fee which may vary by method.
For Direct Debit, no fees apply. The processing time for Bank Wire withdrawals is the same day or the next day, while Check withdrawals take 7 to 10 business days. Direct Debit may require 1 to 2 business days, while a Transfer to Wise Balance withdrawal may appear the next day.
Note that IBKR Prediction Markets doesn't allow withdrawals that reduce your account balance to zero. Withdrawing all funds may cause your account to become inactive.
Customer support at IBKR Prediction Markets
During our Interactive Brokers review, we found three customer support options: live chat, email, and phone. Contrary to our experience during our Coinbase review, live chat support at IBKR is only available from Sunday to Friday during specific hours. However, the support we received via this channel was remarkable. The agents were helpful and quick to respond.
Email support responds within 24 hours during standard hours of operation. Phone support is equally available from Sunday to Friday for traders who prefer speaking directly to a customer support agent. IBKR features a comprehensive help center with answers to inquiries about funding, prediction markets, and account protection.
Interactive Brokers is a regulated prediction market site
Before using a prediction market site, it's best to check whether it's regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This is exactly what we confirmed before starting our Moomoo review. With Interactive Brokers, the site is regulated by the CFTC. Plus, the three prediction markets that provide event contracts and prices on the site are also under CFTC oversight.
Moreover, IBKR requires identity and address verification to ensure that only eligible traders can register on the site. Even if you've been able to deposit funds before completing the KYC process, you can't start trading fully until your verification has been approved. Note that you have to be at least 21 years old to register on the site.
IBKR also uses SSL encryption to prevent third parties from accessing traders’ sensitive information. Plus, it allows two-factor authentication to improve account security during logins.
Market categories on Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers Prediction Markets includes four major topics: economics, politics, climate, and financial markets. Here's what we found:
- Economics: The economics prediction markets at Interactive Brokers are quite wide and better categorized as Economic Indicators. You can trade on popular topics, such as the Fed Decision, the Fed's funds rate, inflation, US gas prices, recession, and annual GDP. Under this category, Interactive Brokers groups relevant topics into education, housing, industry, interest rates, oil and energy, and others.
- Politics: IBKR doesn't have a specific politics prediction market category, but it does feature a government section and offers event contracts on fiscal policy, government actions, and the president. It also includes an election category, offering event contracts on international, mayoral, United States, gubernatorial, House, and Senate elections, among others.
- Climate: For traders interested in climate outcomes, IBKR offers an Environmental category. Events available here center on agriculture, climate change, temperatures, and weather. During our review, we traded on a market about the highest temperature in Los Angeles, with over 271K in trading volume. Topics in agriculture saw limited trading activity, with the largest market recording 6.2K in trading volume.
- Financial markets: IBKR doesn't feature a standalone prediction market category for cryptocurrencies. However, under Financial Markets, the site lists event contracts for cryptocurrencies. We traded “BTC price range EOY,” with 4.5M in trading volume at the time of this review. Other cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, Solana, Dogecoin, and XRP, are also featured.
Conclusion – Trade event contracts on Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers provides traders with real-world event contracts on economics, politics, and climate topics. These contracts are from three major prediction markets: Kalshi, ForecastEx, and CME Group. After registering, we received a $10 welcome bonus in our prediction market account. Through ForecastEx, IBKR Prediction Markets offers a 3.14% APY incentive coupon that accrues daily and is paid monthly.
Given that most other predictions market sites don’t offer any bonuses at all, this is a nice perk to have. Interactive Brokers delivers on all other fronts as well, with its excellent mobile app being another stand out feature. Want to start trading predictions today? You can use the banners on this page to visit Interactive Brokers and get started.