MLB Studies Prediction Market Partnerships With Kalshi And Polymarket

Major League Baseball is weighing a new relationship with prediction market platforms, signaling another shift in how U.S. sports leagues interact with trading style products tied to game outcomes and performance data.

Good to Know

• MLB leadership discussed possible partnerships with Kalshi and Polymarket during quarterly owner meetings.
• Commissioner Rob Manfred pointed to integrity oversight as a key reason to explore cooperation.
• Federal regulation of prediction markets differs from state by state sports betting rules.

League officials are evaluating whether collaboration with event contract platforms could offer stronger monitoring tools at a time when integrity risks remain under the microscope across professional sports.

League Leadership Opens Door To Prediction Market Collaboration

Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed on Thursday that conversations are underway regarding potential partnerships with platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket. According to reporting from ESPN journalist Jeff Passan, team owners received briefings outlining how prediction markets function and how they differ from traditional wagering channels.

Manfred acknowledged that familiarity with the sector is still developing by saying:

“We thought it was important for the owners to be updated on why prediction markets are different than sports betting – why we might want to consider being in business with prediction markets in an effort to protect our integrity, to get the kind of protections we need. The regulatory framework, very different. Obviously, state by state on the sports betting side, federal on the other.”

Only one other major U.S. league, the NHL, currently maintains relationships with prediction platforms, while UFC has already entered a partnership agreement with Polymarket.

Integrity Monitoring Drives Much Of The Discussion

Interest in structured cooperation comes during an era when leagues face rising concern about manipulation tied to gambling and derivative style markets. Greater visibility into trading activity is viewed internally as a possible safeguard rather than a risk.

MLB is already dealing with a high profile integrity case involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, both charged with manipulating performances for bettor benefit. Clase was accused of rigging pitches across 48 games, representing roughly one quarter of appearances over a two year stretch.

Against that backdrop, league leadership believes working directly with prediction platforms could create earlier detection signals and shared compliance tools.

“There’s obviously an opportunity to work with the markets themselves to get the kind of integrity protections you want,” Manfred said.