NBA Partners With Kalshi and Polymarket on Official Prediction Markets

99.66 percent. That is the drop in NBA Top Shot NFT sales last month compared to the February 2021 peak. Despite that financial slide, the NBA announced Monday that it has signed new preferred prediction market deals with Kalshi and Polymarket.

The league also expanded its existing agreement with DraftKings to include prediction markets. A memorandum of understanding with the US CFTC outlines how the NBA will manage these relationships. The NBA stated that further expansions with other partners are coming soon.

Scott Kaufman-Ross, the NBA’s head of media distribution and partnerships, said, “Protecting the integrity of the game is our top priority.” He spoke as the league rolled out a new integrity framework for the Kalshi and Polymarket agreements. Under the new rules, prediction markets gain access to official league data and intellectual property.

The framework sets limits on permissible markets. It also requires information sharing regarding suspicious trades and investigations. The NBA noted that more details on these operational aspects will be finalized.

The timing coincides with several high-profile legal cases. Jontay Porter pleaded guilty to conspiracy over a gambling scheme in 2024. Malik Beasley is reportedly negotiating a plea deal on similar charges. Former player Terry Rozier and coach Chauncey Billups face indictments for allegedly rigging prop bets and poker games.

State attorneys general are also involved. New York Attorney General Letitia James is one of several suing Kalshi and other firms. Senators are investigating reports that DraftKings and similar companies use AI to target gamblers likely to lose while restricting bets from those who win.

The NBA’s move adds new gambling channels while these legal and integrity issues remain active. The league’s new data sharing protocols aim to address concerns about insider trading and market manipulation.