NBA names Kalshi and Polymarket as preferred prediction market exchanges

The National Basketball Association has named Kalshi and Polymarket as its preferred exchanges for prediction markets, marking the league's first formal entry into the industry. In a press release, the NBA stated that the agreements include protections for market integrity, such as limits on the types of event contracts offered and requirements for sharing information about suspicious trades.

Scott Kaufman-Ross, the NBA's head of media distribution and partnerships, described the move as a step toward creating new ways for fans to engage with the game. "Protecting the integrity of the game is our top priority," Kaufman-Ross said. The partnerships will build a framework that opens up fresh avenues for fan interaction.

Alongside the exchange partnerships, the NBA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the federal agency that asserts jurisdiction over prediction markets. The agreement aims to maintain integrity in both NBA-related markets and event contract markets through the exchange of information.

The NBA joins a growing list of major sports leagues partnering with prediction market platforms. The National Hockey League announced partnerships with both Kalshi and Polymarket in October 2025, while Major League Baseball established a relationship with Polymarket in March. The industry has seen significant growth in the past year, driven largely by sports-related offerings.

However, the legal status of these contracts remains contested. State governments argue that event contracts are effectively sports betting and should be regulated at the state level. In contrast, platforms and the CFTC contend that event contracts are swaps, a type of derivative regulated federally. Courts have issued conflicting rulings on the matter, and many expect the Supreme Court will eventually need to resolve the dispute.

As preferred exchanges, Kalshi and Polymarket will receive rights to use NBA intellectual property, along with marketing and licensing privileges. Ari Borod, president of sports business development at Polymarket, said in the release that the league is one of the most influential in the world and that the partnership will bring fans closer to the game.

Adam Barrick, head of sports partnerships at Kalshi, echoed those sentiments, noting that the relationship prioritizes fan engagement, innovation, and safety. "It's an exciting time for both NBA fans and Kalshi users," Barrick said.

The NBA's decision leaves the National Football League as the primary outlier among major American sports leagues regarding prediction markets. Earlier this month, the NFL filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court arguing that sports-related event contracts should be regulated by states rather than the CFTC. While the NFL is not opposed to the markets themselves, it argues they require more guardrails.

At the time of that filing, Kalshi told CNBC it had attempted to work more closely with the NFL but noted that the league had not engaged in those efforts.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver took a different approach to the regulatory question in an interview with CNBC's Contessa Brewer in early October. Silver noted that the NBA currently deals with roughly 40 different jurisdictions regulating its activities. "So to have a consistent policy nationally, I think would be in our best interest," Silver said.

CNBC's Jessica Golden contributed to this report. CNBC and Kalshi have a commercial relationship that includes customer acquisition and a minority investment.