NBA Signs Prediction Market Deals With Kalshi and Polymarket
The NBA has partnered with prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket and signed an MOU with the CFTC, the federal regulator overseeing such markets.
The National Basketball Association is making a formal entry into the rapidly growing prediction markets sector, announcing partnership agreements with two leading platforms — Kalshi and Polymarket — alongside a memorandum of understanding with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the federal agency that regulates prediction markets.
The deals mark a significant step for a major U.S. sports league to align itself with regulated event-contract trading, a space that has drawn increasing attention from both retail participants and financial regulators in recent years. Prediction markets allow users to buy and sell contracts tied to the outcome of real-world events, including sporting contests.
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By signing an MOU with the CFTC, the NBA is signaling a willingness to engage directly with its federal oversight framework — an unusual move that could set a precedent for how professional sports leagues interact with the emerging prediction market industry. The CFTC has jurisdiction over event contracts traded on designated contract markets, a category that includes platforms such as Kalshi.
Kalshi gained regulatory approval to offer event contracts in the United States after a prolonged legal battle with the CFTC, while Polymarket operates primarily offshore and has faced its own scrutiny from U.S. authorities. The NBA's simultaneous partnerships with both platforms underscores the league's intent to establish broad positioning in the space rather than align exclusively with a single operator.
The convergence of professional sports and prediction markets reflects a broader trend following the legalization of sports betting across much of the United States, as leagues seek new engagement and revenue channels tied to game outcomes. Continue reading at US Top News and Analysis.
