The short answer
Traders who mostly bet while the game is already on paid about 1.99% of the money they bet in fees. 10 of 21 wallets were ahead after fees.
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How this style trades
We counted 21 public wallets with half or more of their money bet after the game started. Tennis, soccer, CS2 and Dota 2 came up most. About 97% of the money in the typical wallet went in with instant buys at the screen price, and these traders often sold before the end: the typical wallet sold early on about 43% of its money. A typical bet was about $131.
What it cost
- Fees: about 1.99% of the money bet for the typical wallet, from 1.27% to 2.64% for the middle half.
- Selling early pays twice. An instant sale before the end pays a fee too, on top of the instant buy.
- Little came back. The typical wallet paid $1,025.75 in fees over 30 days and got $41.12 back from Polymarket.
Why it adds up
During a game the price moves fast, so waiting for a price is harder and most bets go in instantly. Our guide to selling before the end shows what the second fee costs.
Read this with care
21 wallets over 30 days is a small group. These numbers show what this style paid, not that it wins or loses.
Questions
Do in-game bets on Polymarket pay a higher fee?
No, the fee formula is the same before and during the game. In-game bets pay more in total because they are mostly instant buys, and many are sold before the end, which pays a second fee.
Is selling before the end the same as cashing out?
Polymarket has no cash-out button like a sportsbook. You sell your shares at the current price, and an instant sale pays the fee.