NBA Names Kalshi and Polymarket Preferred Prediction Exchanges

On Oct. 26, 2026, the NBA designated Kalshi and Polymarket as its two preferred prediction market exchanges. The move grants these platforms access to official basketball data and U.S. promotional rights, marking a significant entry into NBA prediction markets. At the same time, the agreements explicitly forbid both league personnel and team employees from trading NBA event contracts.

In a parallel development, the organization established an information-sharing pact with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) aimed at preventing insider trading and fraud. This regulatory agreement works alongside the commercial deals, allowing the league to take part in both the marketing and oversight of basketball-related markets.

Kalshi and Polymarket Gain NBA Data and Branding Rights

Sportradar, serving as the league’s designated data distribution partner, will supply official NBA data to both platforms to settle authorized markets. Additionally, the exchanges secure the rights to leverage NBA intellectual property and run promotional campaigns within the United States.

Read More: Polymarket and Kalshi Keep Taking India Users Despite Betting Ban

For individual traders, utilizing league-backed data for market settlement is the primary practical change.

NBA Personnel Face Trading Restrictions

According to Kalshi, the partnership mandates that the exchange and the league share integrity data, flag irregular trading behavior, and collaborate on investigations. The terms also limit permissible markets and strictly bar team and league staff from trading NBA event contracts.

The NBA pointed to these protective measures as a key factor in its choice. Scott Kaufman-Ross, the league’s head of media distribution and partnerships, explained to CoinDesk that the goal was to collaborate with regulators and operators to guarantee that appropriate safeguards exist while simultaneously offering new fan engagement avenues.

DraftKings Joins the NBA Prediction Markets Push

Furthermore, the league broadened its current partnership with DraftKings to encompass prediction markets. Additional deals with other operators are anticipated by the league in the near future, widening its commercial footprint past the two preferred platforms.

These upcoming agreements represent the next milestone for basketball enthusiasts and competing operators to monitor.

CFTC Pact Arrives Amid State Legal Challenges

By partnering with the CFTC, the NBA follows the path previously taken by Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League. CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig characterized the arrangement as a vital step in safeguarding market participants and sports integrity against fraud and insider trading.

Conversely, the NFL has adopted a different stance. It has chosen not to form commercial alliances with prediction exchanges and instead backs a Supreme Court review regarding the conflict between federal commodities oversight and state gambling regulations, expressing worries about sports contracts vulnerable to manipulation and inadequate oversight.

Federal appeals courts remain divided on the matter. Following an earlier ruling by the 9th Circuit, the 6th Circuit ruled against Kalshi in September in a case involving Tennessee and Ohio. Meanwhile, the 3rd Circuit permitted Kalshi to continue operating in New Jersey while its legal appeal moves forward.

State-level enforcement is also active. On Oct. 20, Utah Attorney General Derek Brown filed a lawsuit against Kalshi, asserting that the platform has enabled unlawful betting within the state since 2024.

Aside from prospective operator agreements by the NBA, the primary legal situation to watch is whether the Supreme Court agrees to hear the New Jersey dispute. Although a review petition has earned backing from Washington, D.C. and 39 states, the justices have not yet agreed to take up the case.

FAQ

Who will supply the official NBA data used to settle authorized markets?

Sportradar will distribute the official basketball data to Kalshi and Polymarket. Its role as the NBA’s designated data distribution partner connects the league’s data to settlement of authorized markets on both exchanges.

Which NBA personnel are prohibited from trading NBA event contracts?

The prohibition covers NBA league personnel and team personnel. Kalshi described the restriction as part of its safeguards against insider trading and manipulation, alongside cooperation on suspicious trading investigations.

How does the NBA agreement affect DraftKings?

DraftKings’ existing relationship with the NBA now extends to prediction markets. The expansion accompanies the preferred-exchange designations for Kalshi and Polymarket and the league’s plans for further operator agreements.

Which other sports leagues have information-sharing agreements with the CFTC?

Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League established similar arrangements before the NBA. The basketball league’s agreement makes it the third of those leagues to formalize information sharing with the regulator.

What is Utah seeking to recover in its lawsuit against Kalshi?

Utah officials seek an estimated $30 million to $60 million in profits allegedly earned by Kalshi and other defendants. The requested recovery relates to allegations of illegal betting in Utah dating back to 2024.

This article is for information only and is not financial advice.