Fees and Costs
Understand all fees on Public Wager to make informed trading decisions.
Platform Fees
Trading Fees
Fee Structure: 2% on winning positions
- Charged only when you profit
- Applied to winning shares at resolution
- No fees on losing positions
Example:
You buy 100 YES shares at $0.50 = $50 cost
Market resolves YES → You win
Payout: 100 shares × $1.00 = $100
Fee: $100 × 2% = $2
Net Payout: $98
Net Profit: $98 - $50 = $48
No Hidden Fees
✅ Free:
- Account creation
- Browsing markets
- Portfolio viewing
- Market creation (basic)
- ACH deposits
- ACH withdrawals
❌ Fees Apply:
- Trading (2% on wins)
- Credit card deposits (2.9% + $0.30)
- Wire transfers ($10-25)
- Cryptocurrency transactions (network fees)
Payment Processing Fees
Deposit Fees
| Method | Fee | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| ACH Bank Transfer | Free | 1-3 days |
| Credit/Debit Card | 2.9% + $0.30 | Instant |
| Wire Transfer | $10 | Same day |
| Cryptocurrency | Network fees | 10-60 min |
Withdrawal Fees
| Method | Fee | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| ACH Bank Transfer | Free | 2-5 days |
| Wire Transfer | $25 | 1 day |
| Check | $5 | 7-10 days |
| Cryptocurrency | Network fees | 24-48 hours |
Market Creation Fees
Creator Tiers
| Tier | Markets/Month | Creation Fee | Revenue Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 5 | Free | 0% |
| Advanced | 20 | Free | 10% of trading fees |
| Expert | Unlimited | Free | 20% of trading fees |
Fee Examples
Example 1: Simple Win
Investment: $100 (100 shares at $1.00)
Outcome: WIN
Gross Payout: $100
Trading Fee (2%): $2
Net Payout: $98
Net Profit: -$2 (slight loss due to price)
Example 2: Profitable Trade
Investment: $60 (100 shares at $0.60)
Outcome: WIN
Gross Payout: $100
Trading Fee (2%): $2
Net Payout: $98
Net Profit: $38
Example 3: Early Exit (Sell)
Buy: 100 shares at $0.40 = $40
Sell: 100 shares at $0.70 = $70
Trading Fee (2% on profit): $0.60
Net Proceeds: $69.40
Net Profit: $29.40
Minimizing Fees
Smart Strategies
- Use ACH for deposits/withdrawals (free)
- Trade with conviction (fewer trades = fewer fees)
- Hold to resolution when confident
- Avoid credit cards for deposits
- Batch your trades instead of many small orders
Fee Calculator
Use our built-in calculator before trading:
- Enter investment amount
- See potential fees
- Calculate net profit
- Make informed decisions
Fee Transparency
Where Fees Go
Your 2% trading fee supports:
- Platform operations and maintenance
- Customer support
- Security and fraud prevention
- Feature development
- Market creator revenue share (if applicable)
No Surprise Fees
We commit to:
- Clear fee disclosure before trades
- No hidden charges
- Transparent fee structure
- Advance notice of fee changes
Fee Policies
Fee Changes
- 30 days notice for fee increases
- Immediate effect for fee decreases
- Grandfathered rates for active positions
- Email notifications of changes
Fee Refunds
Fees may be refunded if:
- Platform error caused the trade
- Market was incorrectly resolved (later corrected)
- Technical issue prevented fair trading
- At platform discretion for good faith errors
Comparing Fees
Public Wager vs Competitors
| Platform | Trading Fee | Deposit Fee | Withdrawal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Wager | 2% on wins | Free (ACH) | Free (ACH) |
| Competitor A | 5% flat | 2.5% | $10 |
| Competitor B | 3% + $0.50 | Free | $5 |
Tax Reporting
Annual Statements
We provide:
- Complete transaction history
- Profit/loss statements
- Fee summaries
- Tax reporting data
Note: Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Next Steps
- Market Types - Understand different formats
- Start Trading - Place your first bet
- FAQ - Common questions
Questions About Fees?
- Email: support@publicwager.com
- FAQ: See frequently asked questions
- Live Chat: Available 9 AM - 5 PM ET