NBA Partners With Kalshi & Polymarket As NFL Opposes Prediction Markets

• The NBA signed a data-sharing agreement with the CFTC to strengthen prediction market oversight.
• Kalshi and Polymarket became the NBA’s preferred prediction market exchanges.
• The agreement aims to detect suspicious trading, insider activity, and market manipulation.

The NBA is working with prediction market websites called Kalshi and Polymarket. The NBA also made a deal with the U.S. Group that controls contracts. This deal is meant to make sure that sports-related contracts are watched closely.

.@CFTC and National Basketball Association Sign MOU to Protect Integrity in Professional Basketball: https://t.co/wL6Sdtwzc5

— CFTC (@CFTC) October 26, 2026

This step shows that big sports leagues are getting more involved with prediction markets. However, the NFL is fighting against the rules that control this industry.

NBA Signs CFTC Agreement To Protect Sports Integrity

The National Basketball Association, known as the NBA, made an agreement on Monday with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which is called the CFTC. This agreement is about sharing data. The goal of this agreement is to help keep the markets fair. It will help find trading, inside information, and other bad behavior that involves contracts about sports events.

The NBA is now with Major League Baseball, which is called MLB, and the National Hockey League, which is called NHL. These two groups have also made information-sharing agreements with the government group.

The CFTC oversees U.S. Derivatives markets, including exchanges offering event contracts that allow users to trade on the outcomes of events.

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. 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.

I thank NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for putting the integrity of professional basketball and America’s financial markets first and for working with the agency on this MOU.

— Mike Selig (@ChairmanSelig) October 26, 2026

Chairman Mike Selig described the NBA’s agreement as a step toward protecting sports integrity and market participants from insider trading and fraud.

Kalshi & Polymarket Become The NBA’s Preferred Exchanges

Alongside its agreement, the NBA has formed commercial partnerships with Kalshi and Polymarket, naming these platforms as the NBA’s preferred exchanges for prediction markets.

Kalshi says the agreement with the NBA requires Kalshi to share integrity data, report trading, and cooperate with the NBA on investigations. The framework also limits which markets are allowed and stops league and team personnel from trading NBA event contracts. These precautions aim to lower the risk of insider trading and market manipulation, especially as sports prediction markets gain attention.

Scott Kaufman-Ross, the NBA’s head of media distribution and partnerships, said that working with regulators and operators is important as the sector grows. He added that the NBA partnerships could create chances for fan engagement while still supporting the right precautions.

NFL Pushes Back As Prediction Markets Face Legal Challenges

The NBA’s move comes amid an ongoing legal dispute over whether prediction markets should fall under federal derivatives regulation or state gambling laws.

Several states argue that sports‑related event contracts look like gambling and should be overseen by state gaming authorities. Federal courts have made decisions. Two major rulings support the state’s view. The U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to resolve the dispute.

The NFL has sided with the states. The NFL argues that federal oversight is not enough. The NFL says that prediction market platforms do not have to meet the strict rules that state‑regulated gambling operators must follow.

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