The NBA has signed agreements with Kalshi and Polymarket, making the two companies its preferred prediction market platforms as legal disputes over sports event contracts continue in the US.
Announced on Monday, the deals include an integrity framework that gives the league a role in determining which markets can be offered. The parties will share information and a memorandum of understanding with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the federal agency responsible for regulating prediction markets.
Kalshi head of sports partnerships Adam Barrick described the NBA agreement as a major milestone for the company and said it was proud to partner with the league.
League points to regulatory safeguards
The partnerships give Kalshi and Polymarket access to official NBA data and branding for use on their platforms. NBA Executive Vice President Scott Kaufman-Ross told ESPN that the league had held off on deals with prediction market operators until it felt the necessary regulatory framework was in place.
Prediction markets have drawn opposition from state and tribal gaming regulators since platforms began offering sports event contracts in 2025. Regulators argue the companies are bypassing gaming laws. The firms say their contracts differ from traditional sports betting and fall under the CFTC’s authority. Kalshi has sued states in an effort to block state-level regulation.
The NBA has also expanded its partnership with DraftKings to include the company’s prediction market platform.
Legal questions remain
In September, New Jersey officials asked the Supreme Court to resolve the dispute over state authority. The NFL, which does not currently have a prediction market partner, filed a legal brief in support of that request.
Kaufman-Ross said the NBA would not take the same step. He said the agreements with Kalshi and Polymarket nevertheless set out how the league would respond if the court rules against the prediction market industry.
Other leagues have also made agreements with prediction market operators. The National Hockey League announced deals with Kalshi and Polymarket in 2025, while Major League Baseball partnered with Polymarket in March. Five MLB teams signed agreements with prediction market firms in August. The Mets had previously become the first MLB team to partner with a prediction market company, Novig.
The CFTC has recently sought to reassert its authority over the sector. It sued New York and several other states to block their efforts to regulate prediction market platforms.
