NBA teams up wth Kalshi, Polymarket as sector uncertainty continues

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has long been discussing prediction markets, with Commissioner Adam Silver expressing the need for the association to access data from these companies.

​This is now the case as the NBA announced a new partnership with two mainstream prediction market platforms in the United States on Monday, October 26, teaming up with both Kalshi and Polymarket.

NBA finally to tap into prediction markets data - and vice versa

​The move should allow the NBA to access data and help the league better monitor for instances of match-fixing and corruption in the sport, with prediction markets remaining a divisive and controversial industry.

​Kalshi and Polymarket will similarly receive official league data and intellectual property rights, which can be used on their own websites. In a statement, Kalshi’s Head of Sports Partnerships, Adam Barrick, said:

​"Announcing our partnership with the NBA is a significant milestone for Kalshi -- one that we're extraordinarily proud of."

​The NBA is the latest major sports league in the U.S. to pursue partnerships with Polymarket and Kalshi, with Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League already striking such partnerships earlier.

​"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," Barrick added.

​The partnership was also welcomed by Polymarket President and Sports Business Development, Ari Borod, who similarly said that the company was excited to be joining forces with one of the most influential sports leagues in the world.

NBA unlikely to take sides in ongoing conflict between gaming regulators and prediction markets

​"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," Borod added.

​While the NBA is now formally partnered with Kalshi and Polymarket, the association is unlikely to take sides in the ongoing regulatory debate. State gaming regulators and many attorneys general want to bar prediction markets from offering sports event contracts.

​On the other hand, companies such as Kalshi and Polymarket are pursuing their line of defense, i.e., that these contracts are subject to federal regulation and not local gaming laws.

Image credit: Unsplash.com