NBA Names Kalshi And Polymarket Partners As DraftKings Deal Expands

The NBA has appointed Kalshi and Polymarket as Preferred Prediction Market Exchanges, combining commercial partnerships with agreements on market integrity and information sharing.

An expanded DraftKings relationship will cover prediction markets and nationwide promotion. Alongside these deals, the league signed a memorandum of understanding with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), following Commissioner Adam Silver’s requests for trading data and greater influence over NBA contracts.

Partner Agreements Restrict Personnel Trading And Require Investigation Support

Kalshi and Polymarket must observe limits on permitted NBA markets, prevent league and team personnel from trading NBA event contracts, and share information about investigations and suspicious activity.

“Protecting the integrity of the game is our top priority,” Scott Kaufman-Ross, Head of Media Distribution & Partnerships of the NBA, said. “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.”

CFTC Agreement Extends Sports Cooperation On Insider Trading And Fraud

CFTC Chairman Mike Selig said the memorandum builds on cooperation with other professional leagues.

“I’m pleased the CFTC and NBA have signed an MOU continuing the Commission’s commitment to increasing data sharing between the agency and professional sports leagues,” Selig wrote. 

“The NBA joins the MLB and NHL in taking a responsible step toward protecting sports integrity and market participants from abuses in prediction markets like insider trading and fraud.”

Selig thanked Adam Silver for his cooperation. In an earlier CNBC interview, the commissioner supported a minimum participation age of 21 and federal oversight over navigating multiple regulatory jurisdictions.

Official Data And Promotional Rights Accompany The Commercial Deals

Both exchanges will receive NBA intellectual property and marketing rights, promotional opportunities across US media, and official data supplied through Sportradar.

“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,” Polymarket’s President, Sports Business Development, Ari Borod said.

Kalshi’s Head of Sports Partnerships Adam Barrick highlighted fan engagement, innovation and safety. Further agreements with existing betting partners and other industry participants are planned in the coming weeks.

Fan Concerns Persist As League Tightens Controls On Betting Products

ClutchPoints reported criticism in a Reddit discussion attracting hundreds of comments. Objections included concerns about gambling losses and whether commercial recognition would legitimise products some supporters considered harmful.

According to ESPN, sportsbook restrictions prohibit parlays combining multiple unders on one player. Other restrictions cover opening-tip winners, specific missed shots and unders for players expected to play fewer than 12 minutes.

CNBC also reported an internal artificial intelligence platform for suspicious betting detection, expanded education and measures against bettor harassment.

NBA partnerships offer a route to trading information and enforceable contractual safeguards, but commercial recognition also increases the league’s responsibility to explain these limitations. Effective oversight will require timely responses to suspicious activity and restrictions on sensitive markets.