The NBA is moving deeper into prediction markets through new commercial agreements with Kalshi and Polymarket, the two platforms now designated as the league's preferred prediction market exchanges, while adding tighter safeguards around sports-related event contracts. According to an official NBA announcement, the league has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), establishing a new framework for how information and integrity monitoring are shared. The commercial agreements cover league branding and promotion across the two platforms' U.S. operations, while the regulatory memorandum addresses how the league and the markets regulator will exchange information relevant to oversight.

Kalshi and Polymarket Named Preferred Prediction Market Exchanges

The new deals make Kalshi and Polymarket the NBA's preferred prediction market exchanges. Both platforms will be granted NBA intellectual property along with marketing and promotional rights within the United States, and both will have access to official NBA data provided by Sportradar for approved NBA markets.

The agreements also include measures to combat market abuse. Trading of NBA event contracts is prohibited for NBA and NBA team personnel, and the league and its teams are required to cooperate in investigations of suspicious trades.

The NBA said that ensuring the integrity of the game "is always our No. 1 focus" as prediction markets grow in fan involvement.

Official NBA Data Will Help Settle Event Contracts

Access to official Sportradar data is a central element of the partnerships. Event contracts pay out based on whether a specified real-world outcome occurs, which makes authoritative confirmation of results a structural requirement for these venues. Prediction markets depend on accurate event outcomes to settle their contracts, and the connection between Kalshi, Polymarket and the official NBA data feed reduces the likelihood of disputes over the results of basketball games while providing a more uniform framework for approved markets.

The league has also extended its agreement with DraftKings to include prediction markets and nationwide promotion. Additional operators are expected to be added in the coming weeks.

CFTC Agreement Targets Insider Trading and Fraud

The NBA's separate memorandum of understanding with the CFTC, outlined in a CFTC press release, centers on the exchange of information and the assurance of fair and transparent prediction markets. The framework formalizes cooperation between the league and the regulator on market monitoring and investigations.

"The agreement will foster closer partnerships to combat abuses including insider trading and fraud," CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig said.

With the NBA now following suit, Major League Baseball and the NHL have each signed similar agreements with the regulator.

The significance of the arrangement lies in the NBA's possession of private information that could affect the pricing of event contracts, such as players' availability, injuries, internal league developments, or other non-public information.

Prediction Markets Gain Deeper Sports Integration

The deals illustrate how prediction market platforms are increasingly gaining official standing within professional sports rather than serving solely as trading venues. Kalshi has already launched federally regulated event contracts in the United States, while Polymarket has amassed a substantial audience on the crypto side of the prediction market.

The NBA's actions place basketball-related contracts in a structured commercial and data environment, while the league tightens controls over who is permitted to trade and how suspicious activity is addressed.

Continued activity related to NBA event contracts is also evident in CFTC filings, including certified binary products linked to specific games as well as other basketball-related events.

With additional operators expected to be added in the coming weeks and the information-sharing channel with the CFTC now formalized, the roster of approved venues and the practical workings of the league's integrity framework will be the near-term points to watch as these arrangements take effect.

Source: Crypto Ninjas