The key facts

  • Kalshi and Polymarket are officially designated as the NBA's 'preferred prediction markets' and will gain access to the league's marketing materials
  • The NBA will determine which contracts the exchanges can offer and has banned league and team personnel from trading on NBA-related markets
  • The agreement follows the arrest of Terry Rozier and the indictment of Malik Beasley in connection with illegal betting cases

Agreement Terms

On Monday, the NBA announced commercial partnerships with prediction exchanges Kalshi and Polymarket, which officially receive the status of the league's 'preferred prediction markets' and the right to use its marketing materials in advertising. In return, as reported by AFP, the league gains control over which specific contracts the websites can offer, and the companies commit to sharing information 'related to investigations and suspicious trading.' The agreement explicitly prohibits league and team personnel from trading on NBA-related markets. The NBA's existing agreement with sportsbook operator DraftKings has also been expanded to cover prediction markets.

Context: Market Growth and Legal Debates

The partnership comes amid explosive growth in the popularity of prediction markets, which benefit from lighter regulation and can currently operate nationwide. They are technically distinct from traditional sports betting: there is no central bookmaker setting odds; instead, users place monetary wagers directly with each other through online exchanges. Some states question this distinction: in summer, New York Attorney General Letitia James sued Kalshi, accusing the company of operating an illegal gambling business. Prediction markets have also sparked broader debates due to allegations that insiders used privileged information to profit from bets on politics and even wars.

Scandals and the League's Stance

In recent years, the NBA has been affected by several scandals involving illegal betting. In October 2025, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was among those arrested as part of a major FBI investigation; he is accused of providing insider information about player injuries and absences to bettors, though he denies guilt. In June, former Milwaukee Bucks player Malik Beasley was charged in connection with illegal betting; according to one count, he allegedly informed a former teammate of his intention to underperform in rebounds during a game. Under the new agreement, the NBA will be able to block markets particularly vulnerable to manipulation. 'Protecting the integrity of the game is our top priority,' stated Scott Kaufman-Ross, the league's head of media distribution and partnerships, adding that the league considers it important to 'work constructively with regulators and operators.' It was also noted separately that league stars are already linked to these companies: LeBron James has a promotional contract with Polymarket, and Giannis Antetokounmpo with Kalshi; Victor Wembanyama, on the other hand, publicly criticized players promoting sports betting, calling it 'very sad' to see some athletes advertising it.