NBA Signs New Betting Deals Amid Scandals

The NBA announced new betting partnerships on Monday, expanding its commercial ties with prediction markets even as players and coaches face legal scrutiny over game manipulation. The league signed preferred deals with Kalshi and Polymarket and broadened its existing contract with DraftKings to include prediction markets. A memorandum of understanding with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission outlines how the league will manage these relationships.

These moves follow a sharp decline in the NBA Top Shot NFT marketplace, where sales last month totaled $762,781. That figure represents a 99.66 percent drop from the February 2021 peak of $226,350,843. The league also established a new integrity framework for the upcoming prediction market arrangements.

The NBA is currently dealing with multiple high-profile scandals. Jontay Porter pleaded guilty to conspiracy in 2024 regarding a gambling and manipulation scheme. Malik Beasley is reportedly negotiating a plea deal for similar charges. Former player Terry Rozier and coach Chauncey Billups face indictments for allegedly rigging prop bets and participating in rigged poker games.

Scott Kaufman-Ross, the NBA head of media distribution and partnerships, stated that protecting the integrity of the game is the league’s top priority. Under the new framework, prediction markets can use official league data and intellectual property. The agreement limits permissible markets and requires information sharing on suspicious trades and investigations.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is one of several state officials suing Kalshi and other firms. Senators are also investigating how DraftKings and similar companies use AI to target gamblers likely to lose while restricting bets from those who win. The NBA said more partnership expansions will be announced soon.