NBA expands betting ties amid investigations into gambling in the sport
The NBA has expanded its ties to gambling by signing preferred prediction-market deals with Kalshi and Polymarket, while also broadening its DraftKings partnership. The move comes as the league faces several gambling-related investigations and charges, raising questions about how its new integrity framework will protect games and players.
The agreements allow the platforms to use official NBA data and intellectual property, with limits on which markets they can offer and arrangements to share information about suspicious trades and investigations. The league also signed a memorandum of understanding with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Recent cases include Jontay Porter’s guilty plea in a gambling scheme, reported plea negotiations involving Malik Beasley, and indictments against former player Terry Rozier and coach Chauncey Billups; further partnership expansions are expected.
In short
- NBA adds Kalshi and Polymarket as preferred prediction-market partners.
- DraftKings’ NBA deal now includes prediction markets.
- Partnerships arrive amid several gambling-related cases involving NBA figures.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters can argue that regulated partnerships give the NBA more oversight than leaving prediction markets to operate without league cooperation. Limits on eligible markets, access to official data and agreements to share suspicious-trading information could help detect manipulation, while the partnerships reflect growing public demand for these products.
The case against
Critics can argue that expanding commercial ties to betting creates conflicts of interest and risks making gambling seem more legitimate, especially while investigations involving players and a coach are under way. Information-sharing agreements may help identify suspicious activity, but they cannot remove the risk that financial incentives or wider betting exposure could undermine trust in the sport.
Explained simply
Prediction markets and sports betting let people put money on outcomes such as match results or player performances. The NBA, the main professional basketball league in the United States, has commercial partnerships with betting companies and sets rules for how its teams, players and staff may engage with gambling.
The league says official data, restrictions on available markets and information-sharing can help spot suspicious activity. Its integrity framework matters because gambling linked to inside information or efforts to influence play could undermine confidence in the competition. Recent investigations have involved players and a coach, putting the league’s safeguards under scrutiny.
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Originally published by The Verge as “The NBA’s response to gambling scandals is to add more gambling partnerships”.