Polymarket Partners With MLB

IMAGN Major League Baseball (MLB) dove headfirst into the prediction market business on Thursday, announcing a multi-year deal with Polymarket after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding information-sharing with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The deal, first reported by Front Office Sports , is for three years and worth between $150 million-300 million to MLB, according to the site. Polymarket will gain exclusive access to MLB licensed logos and branding.

MLB joins the NHL, MLS, and UFC in taking on official prediction market partners. Commissioner Rob Manfred began laying groundwork for a deal with discussions with the players’ union this summer and last month suggested that such partnerships would be a boon for integrity. Polymarket will have access to official league data to resolve markets.

Manfred told ESPN that federal oversight simplified integrity procedures. “The fact that you have a federal regulatory scheme makes our life a lot easier as opposed to … for example, sports betting, where you’re going state by state,” he said. Prediction markets: more big-name pals Prediction markets keep adding high-leverage partners, even as the legality of controversial sports event contracts is litigated in multiple states.

The sites assert federal oversight by the CFTC and states deem them unlicensed sports betting. But with CFTC leadership allowing prediction markets to swing for the fences in terms of expansion, and legal resolution perhaps years away, deals are forming and the market keeps growing. Kalshi is reportedly negotiating a content-integration deal with Fox Corp.