The NBA has announced new “preferred” prediction market deals with Kalshi and Polymarket, along with a memorandum of understanding with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on managing those relationships. The league also expanded its DraftKings deal to include prediction markets and says it expects to announce further expansions with other partners.
The deals come as the NBA faces several gambling-related cases. Jontay Porter pleaded guilty in 2024 to conspiracy over a gambling and game-manipulation scheme. Malik Beasley is reportedly negotiating a plea deal on similar charges. Former player Terry Rozier and coach Chauncey Billups have been indicted on charges alleging, respectively, prop-bet rigging and participation in rigged poker games.
NBA executive Scott Kaufman-Ross said protecting the integrity of the game is the league’s top priority. The league is establishing an integrity framework for the Kalshi and Polymarket deals. Under the arrangements, the companies can use official league data and intellectual property, with limits on permitted markets and information-sharing about suspicious trades and investigations.
The source also reports that state attorneys general, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, are suing Kalshi and other prediction market companies. Separately, senators are investigating reports that DraftKings and others use AI to target gamblers considered more likely to lose while restricting bets from winners.
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