Making money on Polymarket isn’t about getting lucky—it’s about being smarter, faster, or more disciplined than the rest of the market. While the basic idea is to “buy low, sell high,” successful traders use specific strategies to gain an edge.

Here are the main ways to profit.

1. Value Trading: The Core Strategy

This is the bread and butter of Polymarket. Value trading is about identifying mispriced odds. You do your research and conclude that the true probability of an event is, say, 70%. But you look at the market and see the “Yes” shares are only trading at $0.50 (a 50% probability).

That’s your entry point. You buy the undervalued “Yes” shares, anticipating that the rest of the market will eventually catch up to reality, driving the price up. This strategy relies on solid research and a strong conviction that you know something the market doesn’t. This is the most fundamental way to approach how to bet on Polymarket.

2. News Trading & Scalping: The Speed Game

Markets move on information. If you’re the first to react to breaking news, you can profit. Did a key player in a tennis match just suffer an injury? Did a CEO just tweet something that will affect a product launch? If you can buy or sell shares before the rest of the market processes the news, you can capitalize on the short-term price swing. This is a high-speed game that requires you to be constantly plugged in.

3. Holding to Resolution: The Patient Man’s Game

This is the simplest strategy. You find a market where you have a high degree of confidence in the outcome, buy the corresponding shares, and simply wait. You ignore the price fluctuations along the way. Your goal isn’t to trade the volatility; it’s to be right in the end. When the market resolves, your winning shares settle at $1.00 each, and you collect your profit. This strategy is all about the final how Polymarket pays out.

No matter your strategy, success comes down to discipline. Manage your bankroll, don’t get emotional, and always remember that you’re trading against thousands of other sharp minds trying to do the same thing.