CFTC and the NBA sharing info to protect Prediction Markets integrity
US derivatives markets regulator The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) have announced their signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), intended to protect the integrity of professional basketball in prediction markets.
Through the MOU, the CFTC and NBA will better share information by regularly communicating and discussing matters relating to integrity, as well as maintaining fair and transparent prediction markets. The MOU included the designation of Kalshi and Polymarket as the league’s Preferred Prediction Market Exchanges.
The agreements with Kalshi and Polymarket put in place significant integrity protections for NBA-related markets, including limitations on permissible markets, affirmative prohibitions on trading NBA event contracts by league and team personnel, and information-sharing obligations relating to investigations and suspicious trading.
The agreement comes as sports betting via Prediction Markets platforms has been growing rapidly in recent months. Earlier this year the CFTC inked a similar deal with Major League Baseball, before the 2026 season began.
CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig said,“I’m pleased the CFTC and NBA signed an MOU which continues the Commission’s commitment to increasing data sharing between the agency and professional sports leagues. The NBA joins the MLB and NHL in taking a responsible step toward protecting sports integrity and market participants from abuses in prediction markets like insider trading and fraud. I thank NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for putting the integrity of professional basketball and America’s financial markets first and for working with the CFTC on this MOU.”
Scott Kaufman-Ross, NBA Head of Media Distribution & Partnerships said,“Protecting the integrity of the game is our top priority. As this category develops, we believe it is important to work constructively with regulators and operators to help ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place. These partnerships represent an important step in establishing a framework that creates new opportunities to engage our fans.”
Adam Barrick, Head of Sports Partnerships at Kalshi said,“Announcing our partnership with the NBA is a significant milestone. The relationship we’ve built together reflects a shared mindset that prioritizes fan engagement, innovation and safety. We believe in markets that are fair, safe, and open – it’s why millions of people are coming to Kalshi to trade with nationwide consumer protections. It’s an exciting time for both NBA fans and Kalshi users.”
Ari Borod, President, Sports Business Development at Polymarket said,“The NBA is one of the most influential sports leagues in the world, and we’re excited to work together to bring fans closer to the game. This partnership will allow our customers to engage more deeply with the game of basketball on Polymarket. We look forward to partnering with the NBA on establishing a safe, transparent prediction market ecosystem for everyone.”