The National Basketball Association (NBA) has designated Kalshi and Polymarket as its preferred prediction market platforms. This move is part of a new framework designed to expand commercial opportunities for sports-related prediction markets while strengthening integrity safeguards.
Under a multi-year agreement announced on October 26, 2026, both platforms have been granted the right to use NBA intellectual property, market their services through U.S. media channels, and access official league data—provided by Sportradar—to operate and settle authorized NBA-related prediction markets.
Additionally, the NBA has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), establishing a framework for cooperation and information sharing regarding matters that affect basketball-related prediction markets.
Integrity Safeguards for Prediction Markets
These agreements place restrictions on the types of NBA-related prediction markets that can be offered and prohibit league and team personnel from trading contracts linked to NBA events. Furthermore, the platforms are required to share information concerning suspicious trading activity and any related investigations.
The NBA retains approval authority over prediction markets tied to its games, with the right to restrict any contracts that could pose integrity risks.
The NBA has also expanded its existing partnership with DraftKings to include its “DraftKings Predictions” business, extending the league’s commercial reach beyond traditional sports betting. The NBA intends to explore further collaboration opportunities with its current sports betting partners and other operators.
Do Regulatory Questions Persist?
These agreements arrive amid an intense debate in the United States over whether sports-related prediction markets should primarily be regulated under federal commodities law or state-level gambling regulations.
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) plays a central role in regulating “designated contract markets,” while several states have simultaneously challenged prediction market operators regarding contracts involving sporting events. This controversy creates uncertainty for operators seeking to expand their presence within the U.S. sports betting market.
While the agreement between the CFTC and the NBA establishes a channel for cooperation on integrity-related issues, it does not resolve the broader jurisdictional dispute. These partnerships mark a significant step in the interaction between major sports leagues and prediction market operators, reflecting the industry’s ongoing effort to strike a balance between achieving commercial growth, strengthening regulation, and upholding the integrity of competition.
Sources:
Official NBA announcement
Associated Press report
The Block – Content regarding prediction market regulation
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