Guides
How-to guides
The practical stuff — how to actually fund your account, buy USDC, and stay on top of taxes. Plain English, no fluff.
How to fund Polymarket (buy USDC and deposit)
To fund Polymarket you need USDC on the Polygon network in a self-custody wallet. The fastest path: buy USDC at a crypto on-ramp (card or bank), send it to your wallet on Polygon, then deposit on Polymarket. Polymarket is non-custodial and restricted in the US — check your local rules first. Here's the full step-by-step.
How to track your prediction-market & betting P&L for taxes
Winnings from prediction markets and crypto betting are generally taxable, and on-chain activity (Polymarket on Polygon) leaves a record your tax authority can see. The easiest way to stay compliant is to connect your wallet/exchange to crypto tax software that auto-imports every transaction and computes gains. Here's how, and what to keep.
How to buy USDC (with a card or bank transfer)
To buy USDC, use a regulated on-ramp: create an account, verify your ID, pay with a debit/credit card or bank transfer, and receive USDC. USDC is a US-dollar stablecoin (1 USDC ≈ $1), so it's the standard funding currency for Polymarket and most crypto platforms. Buy it on the network you'll use it on — Polygon for Polymarket — to skip a bridging step. Here's the fastest path and how to keep fees low.
How to cash out from Polymarket (withdraw your USDC)
To cash out from Polymarket, withdraw your USDC from Polymarket to your self-custody wallet on Polygon, send it to an exchange that supports Polygon USDC, sell it for dollars, and withdraw to your bank. Because Polymarket is non-custodial, your funds are always in your control — there's no withdrawal approval queue, just on-chain transfers. Here's the full path and the fees to expect.
How to set up a self-custody wallet for Polymarket
To trade on Polymarket you need a self-custody wallet on the Polygon network. The simplest setup: install MetaMask (or Coinbase Wallet), securely back up your recovery phrase, add the Polygon network, then connect it to Polymarket. Self-custody means you hold the keys — no one can freeze your funds, but you're also responsible for them. Here's how to do it safely.
How to bridge USDC to Polygon
If you hold USDC on Ethereum but need it on Polygon (for Polymarket), you can bridge it. The easiest, cheapest route for most people is to skip bridging entirely: withdraw USDC from an exchange directly onto the Polygon network. If you must move it from a wallet, use the official Polygon bridge or a reputable aggregator. Here's how, and how to avoid the common ways people lose funds.
How to buy Bitcoin (safely, for the first time)
To buy Bitcoin, open an account at a regulated exchange, verify your ID, deposit by card or bank transfer, and buy BTC. For any amount you're not actively spending, withdraw it to a wallet you control. Card buys are instant but cost more (~3–4%); bank transfers are cheaper and take a day or two. Here's the safe beginner path and the fees and security steps that matter.
How to buy USDT (Tether) for crypto betting
To buy USDT (Tether), open an account at an exchange, verify, deposit fiat, and buy USDT — then withdraw it on the right network. USDT is a dollar stablecoin widely accepted at crypto casinos and sportsbooks. The network matters: TRC20 (Tron) has the lowest fees and is the most common for gambling deposits; ERC20 (Ethereum) costs more. Here's how to buy it and which network to pick.
How to deposit at a crypto casino
To deposit at a crypto casino, buy the coin the casino accepts (often USDT, BTC or LTC) at an exchange, copy your casino deposit address and network, then withdraw the crypto from the exchange to that address. Deposits usually credit within minutes once the network confirms. The one rule that prevents lost funds: the coin and network you send must exactly match the casino's deposit page. Here's the full path.
How to withdraw from a crypto casino (and cash out)
To withdraw from a crypto casino, request a payout to your own wallet or exchange deposit address on the matching network, wait for any KYC check and the on-chain confirmation, then sell the crypto for cash at an exchange and withdraw to your bank. Crypto payouts are usually fast, but a first withdrawal often triggers identity verification. Here's the full cash-out path and the fees and checks to expect.
How to read prediction-market odds as probability
A prediction-market price IS the probability. A contract trading at 64¢ means the market prices that outcome at roughly a 64% chance — the price (0–100¢) maps directly to a 0–100% implied probability. Unlike sportsbook odds, there's no conversion needed and no built-in bookmaker margin baked into a single number. Here's how to read the price, what the spread tells you, and where it differs from bookmaker odds.
How to convert betting odds (American, decimal, fractional, implied %)
To convert betting odds, turn any format into implied probability, then read it in whichever format you want. Decimal odds = 1 ÷ probability; American +150 means a $100 stake wins $150 (implied 40%); −150 means risk $150 to win $100 (implied 60%). Implied probability is the common language that lets you compare a sportsbook line to a prediction market. Here are the formulas and the fastest way to do it.
How to calculate expected value (EV) on a bet
Expected value (EV) tells you whether a bet is profitable on average. EV = (probability of winning × profit if you win) − (probability of losing × stake). If your estimate of the true probability is higher than the odds imply, the bet is +EV — profitable over the long run even if any single bet loses. Here's the formula, a worked example, and how to find your edge.
How to track your betting & prediction-market bankroll
To track your bankroll, record every stake, result and deposit/withdrawal in one place so you know your real profit and loss — not just a vague sense of how you're doing. The essentials: a running bankroll figure, per-bet records (date, market, stake, odds, result), and a simple ROI calculation. For crypto and on-chain activity, tax software can auto-import the transaction side. Here's a system that takes minutes a week.
How to set up alerts for the events and markets you trade
To stay ahead of the markets you trade, set price and news alerts on the assets and events that move them — so you act on a move instead of discovering it hours later. The practical setup: charting/alert software for crypto and macro, the platform's own notifications for market moves, and a watchlist focused on a few markets rather than everything. Here's how to build an alert system that catches the moves that matter.