NBA Betting: New Prediction Market Deals Amid Scandals
The league adds Kalshi and Polymarket as partners while player indictments and NFT sales declines remain public.
By Jessica Abebe ·
The National Basketball Association announced new betting partnerships on Monday. The move comes as the league faces ongoing scrutiny over player gambling and a steep drop in its digital collectibles market. The NBA signed agreements with prediction market firms Kalshi and Polymarket. These deals are designated as preferred partnerships. The league also expanded its existing contract with DraftKings to include prediction markets.
The NBA stated that more partnership expansions will be announced soon. A memorandum of understanding was also established with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. This agreement outlines how the league will manage its relationships with these new betting entities.
The new deals are being launched under a new integrity framework. Scott Kaufman-Ross, the NBA head of media distribution and partnerships, said the goal is clear. “Protecting the integrity of the game is our top priority,” he stated. Under the framework, prediction market operators will have access to official league data and intellectual property. The agreement also sets limits on which markets are allowed. It requires information sharing regarding suspicious trades and active investigations.
The timing of the announcement highlights the current state of NBA betting scandals. Jontay Porter pleaded guilty in 2024 to conspiracy charges related to a gambling and manipulation scheme. Malik Beasley is reportedly in negotiations for a plea deal on similar charges. Former player Terry Rozier is under indictment for allegedly rigging prop bets. Coach Chauncey Billups faces charges related to participating in rigged poker games.
The league also continues to manage its NBA Top Shot marketplace. Sales on the platform fell to $762,781 last month. This figure represents a 99.66 percent decrease from the peak of $226,350,843 in February 2021. The platform was part of the same group of initiatives that included the FTX Arena branding. State attorneys general, including New York’s Letitia James, are currently suing Kalshi and other betting firms. Senators are also investigating how DraftKings and other operators use AI to target gamblers likely to lose while restricting bets from those who win.
