I’m pretty late to the game when it comes to the Kalshi app. For those who haven’t heard of it, Kalshi is a betting platform, but not just for sports. It lets you wager on almost anything: elections, pop culture, even whether a public figure will make a surprise appearance somewhere. It’s the stock market of “what if.”

I’ll admit it’s oddly thrilling. I’ve lost some, but I’ve mostly won. My bets are small,  a dollar here, five dollars there. Just enough to make it interesting. If the risk is too high, I scroll past or add it to my watchlist. It’s not about chasing money; it’s about watching the world unfold in real time, and feeling—however briefly—that I might know what’s coming next.

I first heard about Kalshi from South Park. The episode aired back on September 24, 2025, lampooning the idea of everyday people trading on the news. I laughed at the absurdity then. Two months later, on a slow November afternoon, I downloaded the app myself.

Up until now, my only wager had been a simple one: Will Donald Trump attend the next UFC event? He didn’t. I lost.

But the thing about gambling—whether in Vegas or on your phone—is that you should always play with the expectation of losing. If you win, great. If not, that’s the price of curiosity.

Today, curiosity got the better of me. I deposited $100. After several hours of betting on questions ranging from geopolitics to Trump’s media habits, my portfolio was up eight bucks. Not bad for a day of digital guessing.

Some wagers even pay out early. For instance, if a market closes on December 31, 2025, but the event happens sooner, your result gets locked in. It’s oddly satisfying — like breaking news, but with a cash prize attached.

My current record?

Will Trump release the Epstein Files before December 2026? No: +$0.63

Will Eric Adams stop being a Democrat? No: +$1.00

Will Trump meet with Xi Jinping this year? Yes: +$1.00

Will Trump’s approval rating increase this week? No: +$12.00

Will Trump attend UFC 320? Yes: Lost $0.90

I haven’t touched the sports markets yet. As a Los Angeles Kings fan, I checked the odds for their upcoming game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The numbers depend on whether Auston Matthews plays. If he’s out, the Kings’ odds rise to about 55 or 60 percent. If he’s in, it’s a toss-up. That’s not a gamble I’m ready to take—not when my heart’s on the line, too.

In the end, Kalshi isn’t just a betting app. It’s a mirror for how we experience uncertainty. Each market is a reminder of how little control we have over the future, and how much we crave the illusion of it.

As you can see, I’m more up to date on politics and current events than on sports or entertainment news.

For now, I’ll keep my bets small, and my expectations even smaller.