Major League Baseball has struck a significant partnership deal with prediction platform Polymarket, marking the league’s entry into the rapidly expanding prediction market sector with new regulatory oversight measures.
While official financial details remain undisclosed, industry sources suggest the agreement could be worth approximately $300 million across three years, with annual payments potentially reaching $150 million, according to Front Office Sports reporting.
Under the partnership terms, Polymarket gains exclusive authorization to incorporate MLB trademarks and official branding within its prediction market offerings. The platform will also receive access to official league statistics through Sportradar, MLB’s designated global data provider for prediction markets.
This move places MLB alongside other major sports organizations embracing the prediction market trend, including the NHL, MLS, and UFC. The NHL has established partnerships with both Polymarket and Kalshi, while Polymarket maintains separate agreements with MLS and UFC.
Central to the arrangement is a comprehensive integrity system aimed at controlling available betting options. MLB will collaborate with Polymarket to block higher-risk prediction markets, such as those involving specific pitch outcomes, managerial choices, or umpire decisions. The partnership also mandates that integrity protocols be incorporated into Polymarket’s domestic operating guidelines to ensure consistent broker standards.
“Polymarket is about bringing fans closer to the moments that define sports,” stated Polymarket founder and CEO Shayne Coplan. “By working collaboratively with Major League Baseball and regulators, we can create new ways for fans to engage with the game while protecting the integrity of the sport.”
Simultaneously, Commissioner Rob Manfred executed a memorandum of understanding with Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Michael S. Selig. This agreement establishes ongoing dialogue and confidential data exchange regarding baseball integrity and prediction market oversight. MLB characterized this action as continuing its advocacy for protective measures, noting the league’s previous year request for the CFTC to implement robust safeguards as the industry expands.
“The new agreements that we formed with Polymarket and the CFTC are imperative steps in proactively managing the new and rapidly growing prediction market space,” Manfred commented. “Protecting the integrity of the game on the field is our top priority.”
