MLB partners with Polymarket

Published: Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 3:42 pm

MLB Teams Up with Polymarket to Safeguard Baseball's Integrity

Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced a significant partnership with Polymarket, a prediction market platform, and a collaborative agreement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to bolster the integrity of the sport. The move comes as prediction markets, which allow users to wager on the outcomes of future events, gain traction and present new challenges for sports leagues.

MLB's partnership with Polymarket grants the platform exclusive access to MLB logos for use in its prediction market products. Polymarket will also receive official league data from Sportradar, MLB's exclusive global data distributor for prediction markets.

The agreement with the CFTC, led by Chair Michael S. Selig, aims to facilitate information sharing regarding the integrity of professional baseball and related prediction markets. The two entities will hold regular meetings and treat shared information confidentially. The goal is to proactively manage the rapidly expanding prediction market space, mitigate risks, and provide fan engagement opportunities, according to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.

The partnership follows similar moves by other major sports leagues. The NHL and Major League Soccer have also partnered with Polymarket, and NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo has invested in Kalshi, another prediction market platform. MLB had previously expressed concerns about the potential impact of prediction markets on the sport's integrity, sending a letter to the CFTC a year ago advocating for strong protections. While partnering with Polymarket, MLB has stated its intention to establish similar integrity relationships with all other prediction market exchanges offering baseball contracts, requiring them to integrate necessary protections into their rulebooks.

BNN's Perspective:

This partnership signals a proactive approach by MLB to navigate the evolving landscape of sports betting and prediction markets. While the integration of prediction markets offers potential revenue streams and fan engagement opportunities, the league's commitment to integrity is paramount. The collaboration with the CFTC is a crucial step in ensuring fair play and protecting the sport from potential manipulation. This balanced approach, embracing innovation while prioritizing integrity, is a responsible strategy for the future of professional baseball.

Keywords: MLB, Polymarket, prediction markets, CFTC, sports betting, integrity, Rob Manfred, Michael S. Selig, sports data, fan engagement, revenue, regulation

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