Prediction markets continue to expand their presence across Major League Baseball. On Thursday, Novig, a rising trading platform, announced a multi-year agreement with the New York Mets to serve as the team's exclusive prediction market partner—the first such deal by any MLB franchise.

Novig's branding will be integrated throughout the Mets' ecosystem, including signage at Citi Field, appearances on the stadium jumbotron, and visibility during game broadcasts, a Novig spokesperson told Fortune. Mets fans will also gain access to special contests, promotions, and digital content designed specifically for the partnership. Novig declined to disclose further deal terms, including the contract's duration and sponsorship value.

Launched in January 2024 and backed by Pantera Capital, Novig is working to establish itself in a fast-growing prediction market sector currently dominated by platforms such as Polymarket, Kalshi, and Robinhood. Unlike state-licensed sportsbooks, which are regulated at the state level and restricted to jurisdictions where sports betting is legal, prediction market platforms operate under the federal oversight of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, allowing them to offer event-based contracts across state lines. MLB did not respond to questions about whether it intends to create a league-wide prediction market designation or continue allowing agreements at the individual team level.

A Trading Exchange, Not a Sportsbook

As with other prediction market operators, Novig's arrangement with the Mets centers on a sports trading exchange rather than a traditional sportsbook. In a conventional "house vs. player" model, the book profits when customers lose. Novig instead matches fans against one another, with prices determined by the market.

"Because our revenue comes from facilitating trading rather than betting against our customers, we don't care who wins or loses. The result is a fairer system that doesn't punish users for being successful," a Novig spokesperson said.

League-Level Integrity Safeguards

The partnership operates under league-level guardrails. Novig holds the designation of MLB Authorized Prediction Market, requiring participation in the league's integrity program. Under that framework, the platform is barred from listing certain high-risk markets, including wagers on a single pitch, an individual umpire's calls, or a one-off managerial decision. Novig explained that such markets are particularly sensitive because a single individual could influence the outcome without affecting the final score, creating a difficult-to-detect opportunity for abuse.

MLB has previously encountered gambling-related issues. In 2025, federal charges were brought against two Cleveland Guardians pitchers over allegedly rigged prop bets and leaked inside information. In 2024, Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano received a lifetime ban. Both cases originated from traditional sports betting platforms.

Broader Industry Trend

The Novig–Mets announcement follows an earlier MLB move in March, when the league designated Polymarket as its official prediction market exchange, granting the platform exclusive rights to use MLB team names and logos within its products. Simultaneously, MLB announced a memorandum of understanding with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, establishing a framework for the league and regulators to share information on potential integrity issues involving baseball-linked prediction markets.

The deal also reflects a wider wave of partnerships between prediction market platforms and sports organizations over the past two years. These agreements now span U.S. leagues, individual franchises, and international bodies. Ahead of this year's World Cup, ADI PredictStreet signed a multi-year agreement with FIFA to become the tournament's first official prediction market partner. In the United States, the NHL, MLS, and UFC had each already secured their own prediction market agreements before the MLB–Novig deal. For leagues and franchises, these partnerships offer a channel to engage younger, digitally native audiences who are increasingly comfortable with app-based trading interfaces and real-time market mechanics—a demographic that traditional sports betting operators have also been courting.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com.