The NBA’s response to gambling scandals is to add more gambling
The NBA on Monday announced preferred Kalshi and Polymarket prediction-market deals, an expanded DraftKings deal, and a US CFTC memorandum of understanding.
By Dillip Chowdary • Oct 27, 2026 • Source: The Verge
The NBA on Monday, October 26, 2026, announced preferred prediction-market deals for Kalshi and Polymarket, a memorandum of understanding with the US CFTC about how to manage the relationships, and an expansion of its DraftKings deal to include prediction markets. More expansions will be announced with others soon, and the league established an integrity framework for the Kalshi and Polymarket deal. The Verge's report, published at 6:22 PM UTC by senior editor Richard Lawler, covers that announcement from the league behind FTX Arena and NBA Top Shot.
This piece covers the new partnerships, the official data and IP terms, the gambling cases already naming players and a coach, and the state and Senate actions around Kalshi and DraftKings. It is for readers following league data deals, prediction markets, and the NBA gambling cases.
What NBA’s response to gambling scandals shipped
Monday's announcement names Kalshi and Polymarket as preferred prediction-market partners. The NBA also announced a memorandum of understanding with the US CFTC about how to manage the relationships. It expanded its DraftKings deal to include prediction markets, and it said more expansions will be announced with others soon. The integrity framework is for the Kalshi and Polymarket deal. Under the new arrangements, prediction markets will be able to use official league data and IP, with promised limitations on "permissible markets" and information-sharing on suspicious trades and investigations.
The deals were announced while the NBA is already facing gambling scandals. Jontay Porter pleaded guilty to conspiracy over a gambling and manipulation scheme in 2024. Malik Beasley is reportedly in negotiations over a plea deal on similar charges. Former player Terry Rozier and coach Chauncey Billups are under indictment, on charges of allegedly rigging prop bets and of allegedly participating in rigged poker games, respectively. Scott Kaufman-Ross, NBA Head of Media Distribution & Partnerships, said, "Protecting the integrity of the game is our top priority," as the framework was established.
What changed for builders in NBA’s response to gambling scandals
The preferred prediction markets will be able to use official league data and IP. Kalshi and Polymarket are the counterparties on the new preferred deals. Those deals promise limitations on "permissible markets," tying official data to a restricted set of markets, and they require information-sharing on suspicious trades and investigations. Scott Kaufman-Ross, NBA Head of Media Distribution & Partnerships, stated the priority in these words: "Protecting the integrity of the game is our top priority." DraftKings is included by an expansion of its existing NBA deal into prediction markets.
The before-and-after sales figures belong to NBA Top Shot, the league's NFT marketplace. Sales last month dropped to $762,781. That sum is a 99.66 percent decrease compared with the February 2021 peak of $226,350,843. FTX Arena is the other prior project named with those marketplace totals. Both dollar figures are marketplace sales, the peak month versus last month. The October 26, 2026 announcement adds preferred Kalshi and Polymarket deals, a US CFTC memorandum of understanding, and a DraftKings expansion into prediction markets.
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| Measure | February 2021 | Last month |
|---|---|---|
| NBA Top Shot sales | $226,350,843 | $762,781 |
| Change from the February 2021 peak | Peak | 99.66 percent decrease |
How to install or upgrade NBA’s response to gambling scandals
Kalshi and Polymarket are the companies receiving preferred prediction-market deals. Under those arrangements they can use official league data and IP, subject to promised limitations on "permissible markets" and to information-sharing on suspicious trades and investigations. The NBA expanded the DraftKings deal it already had so the partnership includes prediction markets. The memorandum of understanding with the US CFTC is the instrument the league announced for managing the relationships. Further expansions, the NBA says, will be announced with others soon.
League data and IP come with the two limits in the arrangements. "Permissible markets" are limited, and the partners share information on suspicious trades and investigations. The integrity framework is the one the NBA established for the Kalshi and Polymarket deal. Scott Kaufman-Ross, NBA Head of Media Distribution & Partnerships, attached this sentence to it: "Protecting the integrity of the game is our top priority." DraftKings is brought in by expanding the existing deal. Additional companies wait on the expansions the NBA says will be announced soon.
Gotchas and compatibility in NBA’s response to gambling scandals
Four gambling matters are already on the record. Jontay Porter pleaded guilty in 2024 to conspiracy over a gambling and manipulation scheme. Malik Beasley is reportedly in negotiations over a plea deal on similar charges. Terry Rozier, a former player, is under indictment on charges of allegedly rigging prop bets. Chauncey Billups, a coach, is under indictment on charges of allegedly participating in rigged poker games. Those cases were public when the NBA named Kalshi and Polymarket as preferred partners and extended DraftKings on October 26, 2026.
Prediction markets have already drawn insider trading activity for everything from US military activity in Venezuela to Trump's teleprompter. The new arrangements grant official league data and IP together with limitations on "permissible markets" and information-sharing on suspicious trades and investigations. New York attorney general Letitia James is just one of many state attorneys general suing Kalshi and the others. Senators are investigating reports on how DraftKings and others use AI to target the gamblers who are more likely to lose, while restricting bets from those who win.
What to watch after NBA’s response to gambling scandals
Further partner names are still to come. The NBA said more expansions will be announced with others soon, after Monday's disclosure of Kalshi, Polymarket, and the expanded DraftKings deal. The memorandum of understanding with the US CFTC covers how to manage the relationships. The Kalshi and Polymarket integrity framework states limitations on "permissible markets" and information-sharing on suspicious trades and investigations. Scott Kaufman-Ross, NBA Head of Media Distribution & Partnerships, said protecting the integrity of the game is the top priority.
Malik Beasley is reportedly in negotiations over a plea deal on charges similar to the gambling and manipulation conspiracy Jontay Porter pleaded guilty to in 2024. Terry Rozier is under indictment on charges of allegedly rigging prop bets. Coach Chauncey Billups is under indictment on charges of allegedly participating in rigged poker games. Letitia James is one of many state attorneys general suing Kalshi and the others. Senators are investigating reports that DraftKings and others use AI to target gamblers more likely to lose, while restricting bets from those who win.
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NBA’s response to gambling scandals FAQ
What did the NBA announce on Monday, October 26, 2026?
Preferred prediction-market deals for Kalshi and Polymarket, a memorandum of understanding with the US CFTC about how to manage the relationships, an expansion of the DraftKings deal to include prediction markets, and an integrity framework for the Kalshi and Polymarket deal. The NBA said more expansions will be announced with others soon.
What do the Kalshi and Polymarket arrangements allow?
Prediction markets will be able to use official league data and IP. The arrangements promise limitations on "permissible markets" and information-sharing on suspicious trades and investigations.
What did Scott Kaufman-Ross say about integrity?
The NBA Head of Media Distribution & Partnerships said, "Protecting the integrity of the game is our top priority," as the league established the integrity framework for the Kalshi and Polymarket deal.
How far did NBA Top Shot sales fall?
Sales last month dropped to $762,781, a 99.66 percent decrease from the February 2021 peak of $226,350,843.
Which gambling cases are already attached to NBA figures?
Jontay Porter pleaded guilty in 2024 to conspiracy over a gambling and manipulation scheme. Malik Beasley is reportedly in negotiations over a plea on similar charges. Terry Rozier is under indictment over allegedly rigging prop bets, and coach Chauncey Billups is under indictment over allegedly participating in rigged poker games.
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Dillip Chowdary
Writes Tech Bytes coverage of AI, engineering, and the tools that actually ship. Editor of Tech Pulse Daily.
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