The National Basketball Association (NBA) has signed agreements with Kalshi and Polymarket to establish a framework for NBA-related prediction markets.
The league also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to facilitate cooperation and information sharing on prediction markets involving the NBA.
Under the agreements, Kalshi and Polymarket will become the NBA’s Preferred Prediction Market Exchanges. Both platforms will be subject to restrictions on permissible markets, prohibitions on league and team personnel trading NBA event contracts, and information-sharing obligations related to investigations and suspicious trading.
“Protecting the integrity of the game is our top priority,” said Scott Kaufman-Ross, NBA Head of Media Distribution & Partnerships. “As this category develops, we believe it is important to work constructively with regulators and operators to help ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place.”
He said the agreements represent a step towards establishing safeguards for the developing market while creating new opportunities for fan engagement.
Kalshi Sports Partnerships Head Adam Barrick said the partnership reflects a shared focus on fan engagement, innovation, and safety.
“We believe in markets that are fair, safe, and open – it’s why millions of people are coming to Kalshi to trade with nationwide consumer protections. It’s an exciting time for both NBA fans and Kalshi users,” Barrick commented.
As preferred exchanges, Kalshi and Polymarket will receive rights to use NBA intellectual property, marketing rights, and promotional opportunities across US media channels. They will also receive official NBA data from Sportradar, the league’s official data distribution partner, to operate and settle authorised NBA-related markets.
Ari Borod, President of Sports Business Development at Polymarket, added: “The NBA is one of the most influential sports leagues in the world, and we’re excited to work together to bring fans closer to the game.
“This partnership will allow our customers to engage more deeply with the game of basketball on Polymarket. We look forward to partnering with the NBA on establishing a safe, transparent prediction market ecosystem for everyone.”
The NBA has also expanded its agreement with DraftKings to cover prediction markets and nationwide promotion. The league plans to extend its relationships with other existing official sports betting partners and additional industry operators in the coming weeks.
All authorised prediction market operator partnerships will include enhanced integrity obligations specific to prediction markets and market restrictions aligned with the NBA’s latest sports betting rules.
Last month, New Jersey officials petitioned the Supreme Court to resolve the dispute over whether states can regulate prediction markets, a power CFTC Chairman Michael Selig maintains belongs exclusively to his agency.
Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia have backed New Jersey’s petition, arguing that Kalshi and Polymarket are wrong to claim that regulatory authority rests solely with the federal government.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has called for a uniform national approach to prediction market regulation. Speaking on CNBC‘s Squawk Box earlier this month, he said a consistent nationwide policy would be in the league’s best interest.
The NFL, however, has urged the Supreme Court to hear New Jersey’s case, arguing that states should have the authority to regulate prediction markets. The league has partnerships with several sportsbooks that compete with prediction market platforms.
