The NBA has named Kalshi and Polymarket as its preferred prediction market exchanges and introduced a formal integrity framework for basketball-related event contracts.
The agreements give both platforms access to official league data and US marketing rights while placing limits on the markets they can offer. The league also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission covering cooperation and information sharing.
NBA and team personnel are prohibited from trading NBA event contracts, while Kalshi and Polymarket must provide information connected to investigations and suspicious activity.
“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. These partnerships represent an important step in establishing a framework that creates new opportunities to engage our fans.”
The league had delayed entering commercial prediction market agreements until it was comfortable with the regulatory and integrity structure.
“We were really just waiting for that moment where we felt like we had all of the proper pieces in place in order for us to get comfortable to move forward,” Kaufman-Ross said.
Preferred Exchanges Gain Data and Commercial Rights
Kalshi and Polymarket will receive rights to use NBA intellectual property and conduct promotional activity across US media channels.
Both exchanges will also receive official NBA data through Sportradar, the league’s official data distribution partner, to operate and settle authorized markets.
“Announcing our partnership with the NBA is a significant milestone,” said Adam Barrick, Head of Sports Partnerships at Kalshi. “The relationship we’ve built together reflects a shared mindset that prioritizes 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.”1
“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,” said Ari Borod, President, Sports Business Development at Polymarket. “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 existing DraftKings agreement to cover prediction markets and nationwide promotion.
DraftKings falls under a separate Authorized Prediction Market Operator category. The league said future agreements with other partners will carry enhanced integrity requirements and restrictions aligned with its latest sports betting rules.
CFTC Agreement Addresses Information Sharing
The NBA’s memorandum with the CFTC creates a formal mechanism for cooperation on prediction market activity involving the league.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and CFTC Chairman Michael Selig signed the agreement, according to the supplied reporting.
The arrangement comes during an ongoing legal dispute over whether sports-event contracts fall under federal commodities regulation or state gambling laws.
The NBA has chosen not to take a position on that jurisdictional question.
“We’ll let the courts decide,” Kaufman-Ross said in a press release. “The jurisdictional issue is not our issue. Our issue is the way that our game is impacted.”
He also said the contracts contemplate a scenario in which prediction market operators could lose the ability to offer sports markets.
“It’s certainly something we’ve contemplated,” he said.
Legal Challenges Continue Around Prediction Markets
Several states continue to challenge sports-event contracts offered by prediction market operators.
Utah Attorney General Derek Brown filed a civil complaint against Kalshi, affiliated businesses and two Susquehanna trading firms on October 20. The state is seeking restrictions on disputed contracts and recovery of fees linked to Utah users.
Those fees were estimated at between $30.6 million and $61.2 million through October 19.
A federal judge had previously ruled that federal commodities law did not prevent Utah from enforcing its gambling laws against Kalshi. The company continues to challenge that position.
Missouri has separately warned several prediction market operators, including Kalshi and Polymarket, over compliance with state sports wagering requirements.
New York is also contesting prediction market activity, while New Jersey has asked the US Supreme Court to review the broader regulatory issue.
The NBA’s agreements give the league more direct control over how basketball-related prediction markets are structured while requiring information sharing around suspicious trading and investigations.
The league follows Major League Baseball and the NHL in establishing commercial relationships with prediction market operators as the legal status of sports-event contracts continues to be contested across the United States.