Margin Portfolio is available to selected users who have traded over $1M in lifetime volume through River Markets.. If you’re interested, reach out at contact@rivermarkets.com.
How It Works
When you deposit funds and open positions, River continuously computes a Margin Health ratio for your account. This ratio tells you whether your portfolio is adequately collateralized.- Above 1.5 — Your account is healthy. Trade normally.
- Between 1.0 and 1.5 — Caution. Your margin cushion is thin.
- Below 1.0 — Margin call. You must deposit funds or close positions to avoid liquidation.
Key Concepts
Deposit
The cash you have deposited into your account. This is your base collateral. The collateral is the same for Polymarket and Kalshi.Used Margin
The amount of collateral borrowed to River Markets to open your positions. If your deposit fully covers your cashflows, your used margin is zero. Otherwise, used margin reflects the shortfall.Adjusted Equity
A conservative estimate of what your portfolio is worth. River applies risk adjustments to each position individually:- Positions with higher uncertainty (events trading near 50/50) are valued more conservatively, because the outcome is less predictable.
- Positions that expire sooner are valued more conservatively, because they haven’t had time to season.
Available Margin
The difference between your Adjusted Equity and your Used Margin. This is how much room you have to open new positions. If it reaches zero, you cannot open new positions without depositing more funds or closing existing ones.Margin Health
The ratio of your Adjusted Equity to your Used Margin. This is the single number that determines your account status.Margin Requirements
River enforces two margin thresholds:- Initial Margin Requirement (1.2) — To open a new position, your projected Margin Health after the trade must remain above 1.2. If the trade would push your health below 1.2, it will be rejected. This buffer ensures you don’t enter a position already close to a margin call.
- Maintenance Margin Requirement (1.0) — At all times, your Margin Health must stay above 1.0. If market movements cause your health to drop below 1.0, a margin call is triggered and you must deposit funds or close positions to restore it.
Reading the Dashboard
Your Margin Portfolio dashboard shows:Margin Health Gauge
A color-coded indicator showing your current margin health at a glance. Green means healthy, yellow means caution, red means action required.
Account Summary
Your Deposit, Used Margin, Adjusted Equity, and Available Margin — the four numbers that define your account state.
Position Breakdown
Each open position with its notional value and its contribution to your Adjusted Equity. Sorted by contribution so you can see which positions are helping your margin the most.
Trade Simulation
A preview of how your Margin Health will change before you confirm a trade. Shown directly on the order form.
Simulations
Before placing a trade, the order form shows your projected Margin Health after the trade. As you adjust the position size, the projection updates in real time. If the projected margin health drops into the warning or danger zone, you’ll see it before you confirm. From the portfolio view, you can also simulate:- Closing a position — See how your Margin Health improves if you close a specific position.
- Adding funds — See exactly how much you need to deposit to restore a healthy margin.
Margin Calls
If your Margin Health falls below 1.0, you will receive a notification. You have two options:- Deposit additional funds to increase your collateral.
- Close positions to reduce your margin usage.