{"id":436596,"date":"2026-01-27T14:16:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T14:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/436596\/"},"modified":"2026-01-27T14:16:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T14:16:11","slug":"what-we-know-about-polymarkets-deal-with-major-league-soccer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/436596\/","title":{"rendered":"What We Know About Polymarket’s Deal With Major League Soccer"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I am helping Next.io with its new Emerging Verticals event on March 9 in New York City, ahead of the main conference. I\u2019ll be there and speaking! You can get tickets and learn more here<\/a>. Use code F0EVTCL0L10 for a 10% discount. Reach out if you have any questions about the event or getting tickets.<\/p>\n

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Another professional North American sports league is getting involved with prediction markets.<\/p>\n

The commercial arm of Major League Soccer \u2014 Soccer United Marketing \u2014 and Polymarket announced a multi-year partnership on Monday. The deal makes Polymarket an official partner of MLS and the Leagues Cup in the United States.<\/p>\n

So far, no similar deal between Kalshi and MLS has been announced. <\/p>\n

Quotes on the deal from Polymarket and MLS:<\/p>\n

\u201cAs soccer\u2019s audience continues to grow and evolve in the U.S., fans are looking for new ways to engage more deeply with the game,\u201d said Shayne Coplan, Founder and CEO of Polymarket. \u201cThrough our partnership with MLS and Leagues Cup, we can surface real-time collective sentiment around key moments, matches, and season-long storylines, giving fans a more interactive, data-driven way to experience the game and engage with the world\u2019s most popular sport.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs MLS continues to grow, innovation remains central to how we engage fans and evolve the league,\u201d said Gary Stevenson, MLS Deputy Commissioner and President of Soccer United Marketing. \u201cPartnering with Polymarket allows us to integrate prediction markets as a new fan engagement format and position MLS as an early leader among global soccer properties.\u201d<\/p>\n

The move comes on the heels of similar deals in sports in recent months:<\/p>\n

The partnership underlines the current environment for leagues and prediction markets. From the press release:<\/p>\n

The partnership includes safeguards designed to protect the integrity of MLS and Leagues Cup matches, including independent monitoring of trading activities and collaboration on MLS and Leagues Cup markets offered.<\/p>\n

Prediction markets on sports will exist regardless of what leagues think about them, at least in the short- to medium-term. Leagues can choose to monetize them and exert some control over integrity standards, fight them outright, or stay on the sidelines. MLS (and the NHL) have clearly chosen the first path.<\/p>\n

More from Sportico<\/a> with Chris Schlosser, the league\u2019s SVP of emerging ventures.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings like approval on which markets will be listed; use of official data; third-party integrity monitoring from reputable companies like IC360 or Sportradar; support for investigations should we ever need it; and support for our restricted individuals list, so staff, players, reps, owners and club staff can\u2019t trade on the sport of soccer,\u201d he said. \u201cWe think that provides a robust set of integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Polymarket\u2019s international site, it\u2019s not clear how much it can or will do beyond being able to flag large wagers. Users on the site trade using cryptocurrency and are largely anonymous, aside from their public wallet addresses. On the Polymarket US app, the exchange knows the names and other information of all traders.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s more of the press release from MLS:<\/p>\n

The partnership reflects MLS and SUM\u2019s continued focus on innovation and positions MLS among the first global soccer leagues to integrate prediction market insights into the fan experience.<\/p>\n

Polymarket and MLS plan to work together to develop new fan experiences across MLS digital platforms, with a focus on enhancing the live match experience and second-screen engagement for fans. These efforts are intended to bring supporters closer to the game through innovative digital content across MLS and Leagues Cup platforms that reflect real-time collective fan sentiment around key moments. \u2026<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s announcement comes amid sustained momentum for soccer in North America. With the FIFA World Cup arriving in the region in 2026, Major League Soccer and Leagues Cup are entering a new era of visibility and growth, creating expanded opportunities to engage fans in meaningful and modern ways.<\/p>\n

Polymarket had less than $1 million in volume on the most recent MLS Cup:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Kalshi had more than a million dollars of volume on the MLS Cup <\/a>game, and less than half a million dollars on the futures market<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Betting on MLS remains a relatively small piece of the regulated sports betting industry.<\/p>\n

The big question is if any of the larger North American leagues \u2014 namely the NFL, NBA or Major League Baseball \u2014 will jump into the fray. The NFL, for its part, has been publicly distancing itself from the prediction market industry.<\/p>\n

Kalshi opens a DC office (Politico)<\/a>: \u201cKalshi has opened an office in D.C. as the online betting giant continues to grow its footprint in the nation\u2019s capital. The betting platform has tapped Biden administration and Hill alum John Bivona as its first head of federal government relations.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBivona most recently worked for Kalshi\u2019s newest outside lobbying firm, Intersection Government Relations. Before that, he worked at Rasky Partners following a stint as DHS\u2019 White House liaison during the Biden administration and on the Biden campaign. He also served as chief of staff to Antonio Delgado, who served in the House before becoming New York\u2019s lieutenant governor in 2022.\u201d<\/p>\n

From Bivona on LinkedIn<\/a>: After almost 2 decades of helping Democratic candidates win, I have decided to go in-house to lead and build the Federal Government Relations team at what I view as one of the most important innovations of our generation: Kalshi<\/p>\n

In 2007, I knocked doors in Iowa for a little-known candidate named Barack Obama. I was all-in on the then-underdog. Then, during two cycles at the DCCC I recruited promising candidates, who ended up winning despite long odds. I loved my campaign days. I had a feeling, even before most of America did, that they had the potential to make a huge difference.<\/p>\n

I have the same feeling about Kalshi. By taking prediction markets mainstream, Kalshi has enabled a fundamental shift in consumer behavior and changed the way people get information. <\/p>\n

At a time where most Americans feel like the \u201csystem\u201d is rigged against them, Kalshi has built a platform where there is no system: no algorithm, no house, no Wall Street. People decide the price and compete fairly against each other. To do well on Kalshi, you need to be smarter than your neighbor, not smarter than the house. <\/p>\n

I love that, partially because it\u2019s a healthier model, and partially because I was smarter than my neighbors when it came to sports \ud83e\udd23. I remember sitting in the stands of Joe Robbie stadium as an 11 year old, predicting whether Dan Marino was going to break Fran Tarkenton\u2019s career touchdown record that game. Even though I wasn\u2019t an expert on everything, no one followed the Miami Dolphins closer than I did. I read every piece of news, followed every player, studied every statistic and I still do to this day. It\u2019s my break away from politics. I love how Kalshi provides sports experts like me with the ability to put their knowledge to the test against their neighbors.<\/p>\n

Kalshi is resonating with people: 45% of young American adults have become active users of prediction markets, with over $100B of annual volume. But what drew me in isn\u2019t the growth or scale. <\/p>\n

Tarek and Luana decided to spend four years working on proactively getting government approval to become the first CFTC-regulated prediction markets before launching a single product. While competitors were launching and scaling products offshore outside of the bounds of regulation, they stayed true to their principles.<\/p>\n

Others debate innovation or regulation. Kalshi proved that, through hard work, you can do both.<\/p>\n

Politics have changed enormously since I started in 2007. Mistrust in institutions and information have accelerated polarization. R, D or in between, most people think the system is rigged. While there isn\u2019t one fix to these challenges, Kalshi has built a platform that is expanding access to information and leveraging the wisdom of the crowd for good. <\/p>\n

I am thrilled to dedicate my next decade to this mission. I\u2019m looking forward to working with regulators and policymakers on both sides of the aisle to support market integrity and customer protection.<\/p>\n

Novig Applies for Federal Prediction Market Approval (Sportico)<\/a>: \u201cNovig has applied for Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) registration as a prediction market exchange operator, according to government filings dated Jan. 21. It would do business as Ludlow Exchange LLC, with Novig co-founders Jacob Fortinsky and Kelechi Ukah listed as directors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe federally governed exchange model, brought to the forefront by Kalshi, has emerged as a major sports betting story over the past year. Unlike traditional sportsbooks, these exchanges don\u2019t abide by state gambling laws or pay state gambling taxes, claiming they offer a kind of financial asset. Exchange operators facilitate bets between users, though some also have affiliated trading arms that participate on their exchanges. Novig already has an in-house trading team.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can see the filing at the CFTC website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Another sweepstakes exchange, ProphetX, applied to register with the CFTC late last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jefferies Analysts: Sports Betting Handle Drops, But Don\u2019t Blame Prediction Markets (InGame)<\/a>: \u201cJefferies analysts noted in a Field Position update <\/a>Monday that although United States sports betting handle dropped in December for one of the few times ever, the incursion of prediction markets bearing on sports event contracts was likely not the cause.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the underlying overall metrics, the report suggests, aren\u2019t as dire as they seem for the legal sports betting industry, wrote James Wheatcroft, David Katz, and Matthew Copeland. \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSportsbook handle doesn\u2019t appear to have migrated to prediction markets, despite their recent gains in sports betting volume, according to Jefferies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Kalshi\u2019s momentum appears to be slowing, rather than accelerating,\u2019 Jefferies observed, noting that its December volume was up just 6% month-over-month, as opposed to +54% and +32% in October and November, respectively.\u201d<\/p>\n

My latest over at The Closing Line:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Early Line: Super Bowl Betting Looms For Sportsbooks, Prediction Markets<\/p>\n

Next Summit New York is coming up in early March. Get your tickets here, and use code TCL0L10FU3V for a 10% discount\u2026<\/p>\n

Read more<\/p>\n

16 hours ago \u00b7 4 likes \u00b7 Dustin Gouker<\/p>\n

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The uses and abuses of prediction markets (The Financial Times, paywall)<\/a>: \u201cInsider bets, low liquidity and regulatory gaps complicate efforts to turn wagers into financial tools.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prediction markets can take bets on outlandish events that \u2018get laundered into legitimacy,\u2019 Gen Z\u2019s favorite economic commentator warns (Fortune)<\/a>: \u201cFinancial markets have long influenced perceptions, but prediction markets can prematurely create a permission structure for possible events in the future, according to economist Kyla Scanlon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a recent New York Times<\/a> op-ed<\/a>, she pointed to a dynamic that trading legend George Soros once observed, namely that market expectations help shape reality, not just predict what\u2019s ahead. But traders of stocks, bonds, currencies, and commodities are reacting to events and making forecasts based on that. What\u2019s different about prediction markets is they can give the appearance of consensus for something that hasn\u2019t happened yet, Scanlon warned.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gen Z Is Betting Big on Prediction Markets\u2014Literally (Decrypt)<\/a>: \u201cA third of young Americans think prediction markets are the future. And they\u2019re putting their money where their mouth is. New survey data from The New Consumer and Coefficient Capital reveals<\/a> that 31% of Americans believe prediction markets will become a bigger, more important part of culture. But that number masks a generational split that\u2019s as wide as the gap between TikTok and cable news.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYounger consumers are much more aware of platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi. Gen Z and Millennials show 17% awareness of Polymarket versus just 4% for Gen X and older. Kalshi awareness follows the same pattern: 13% for younger users, 5% for older generations.\u201d<\/p>\n

The prediction market boom is posing an existential threat to American Indian gaming (Brookings)<\/a>: \u201cThe boom in online sports betting and prediction markets is disrupting Tribal government gaming\u2014and in the process, creating an existential threat to Tribal sovereignty and economies. Gaming in Indian Country, including sports betting, is conducted by Tribal governments under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988<\/a> (IGRA), one of the most comprehensive and complex regulatory schemes in the world. Since its passage, gaming has singularly changed the economic landscape for Tribes across the country. Having survived mass closures and layoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic, tribal gaming revenues hit a high of $43.9 billion in 2024. These revenues are the primary source of Tribal government support for essential community services.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYet today, the rise of prediction markets such as Kalshi, Crypto.com, and Robinhood is jeopardizing that economic development model. These sites offer sports \u2018event contracts,\u2019 which circumvent the IGRA\u2019s federal regulatory scheme and disregard rules such as state and Tribal licensing, minimum age requirements, and consumer protections delineated in carefully negotiated compacts. If left unchecked, Tribal sovereignty and the vitality of Tribal economies may be undermined.\u201d<\/p>\n

State Gaming Commissions Rallying Behind Massachusetts Judge\u2019s Kalshi Decision (Sports Betting Dime)<\/a>: \u201cSo far, counsel for Ohio, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee have filed the Massachusetts preliminary injunction approval as \u2018supplemental authority\u2019 in their own legal struggles against the prediction market company. Each of those states have officially included the preliminary injunction decision into their own legal strategies to impose preliminary injunctions upon Kalshi as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

CFTC and SEC Reschedule Joint Event on Harmonization, U.S. Financial Leadership in the Crypto Era (press release): Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Michael S. Selig and Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul S. Atkins will hold a joint event, previously scheduled for Jan. 27, now rescheduled for Thursday, Jan. 29, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at CFTC headquarters to discuss harmonization between the two agencies and their efforts to deliver on President Trump\u2019s promise to make the United States the crypto capital of the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor too long, market participants have been forced to navigate regulatory boundaries that are unclear in application and misaligned in design, based solely on legacy jurisdictional silos,\u201d said CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig and SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins. \u201cThis event will build on our broader harmonization efforts to ensure that innovation takes root on American soil, under American law, and in service of American investors, consumers, and economic leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n

Title:\u202fCFTC \u2013 SEC Harmonization: U.S. Financial Leadership in the Crypto Era<\/p>\n

Date:\u202fThursday, January 29, 2026<\/p>\n

Time:\u202f2:00 p.m. \u2013 3:00 p.m. ET<\/p>\n

Host:\u202fCFTC Headquarters at Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20036<\/p>\n

Agenda:<\/p>\n

The event, held at CFTC headquarters, will be open to the public and webcast live on the SEC\u2019s website. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

For online attendance, registration is not necessary. For in-person attendance, please register<\/a> in advance.<\/p>\n

Crypto Traders Flee to Prediction Bets After $150 Billion Crash (Bloomberg, paywall)<\/a>: \u201cNot long ago, Nikshep Saravanan was deep in the crypto trenches \u2014 trading memecoins, reaching out to venture capitalists, and trying to launch a startup for digital creators. By January, he\u2019d dropped it all. These days, he spends hours on prediction markets, tracking odds on everything from sports to politics.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I was trying to get traction without funding, the prediction-markets space started blowing up,\u201d recalled the 27-year-old Canadian.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaravanan is part of a fast-growing wave of crypto-native traders cooling on the token economy and gravitating toward event betting. Where the action once revolved around meme coins and protocol launches, it\u2019s now about interest-rate decisions, NBA games, and weather forecasts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prediction Markets See Nearly 80% Chance of New Shutdown (WSJ, paywall)<\/a>: \u201cTraders on prediction markets stepped up their wagers on another government shutdown after the weekend\u2019s deadly shooting in Minneapolis led Senate Democrats to demand changes to a major spending package. Early Monday, prices on Polymarket were implying a 78% probability of a shutdown by the end of January, up from less than 10% on Friday. The bets have drawn about $7.5 million in total trading volume, Polymarket data shows. A similar contract on Kalshi, a rival platform, also showed a huge jump in the chances of a shutdown on Jan. 31, when funding for much of the federal government is set to expire.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bettors wagered millions on this weekend\u2019s expected snowfall across the U.S. (CBS News)<\/a>: \u201cBettors seeking to cash in on the weekend\u2019s snowstorm flocked to prediction markets to wager millions on how much snow would ultimately accumulate across the U.S., with more than $6 million bet on New York City\u2019s totals alone. Online prediction markets Polymarket and Kalshi accepted bets for expected snowfall in different locales across the U.S. For example, more than $1.2 million was wagered on a market at Polymarket, titled \u2018How many inches of snow in NYC this weekend? (Jan 24-26).\u2019 Based on bets placed through Monday, the implied consensus snowfall for New York City\u2019s total was 11 inches.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bring The Receipts (Straight to the Point): \u201cPrediction markets were warned by the CFTC to have a plan in place in the event of an adverse legal outcome like the one recently handed down in Massachusetts.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Bulletin Board\u2026<\/p>\n

Read more<\/p>\n

a day ago \u00b7 5 likes \u00b7 Steve Ruddock<\/p>\n

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Welcome back to another guest post from Stand, a prediction market pro trading terminal with automatic trades, live trade feeds, alerts, and more\u2026<\/p>\n

Read more<\/p>\n

5 days ago \u00b7 15 likes \u00b7 4 comments \u00b7 Stand.Trade<\/p>\n

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