MLB and CFTC partner to oversee prediction markets

MLB and CFTC partner with Polymarket, setting exclusive rights and compliance measures to ensure integrity in sports prediction markets.

Major League Baseball (MLB) has entered the prediction market space by partnering with Polymarket, granting the platform exclusive rights to use MLB branding and access official league data. This collaboration is reinforced by a Memorandum of Understanding between MLB and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), aiming to coordinate oversight, share integrity-related data, and establish a compliance framework for prediction markets tied to MLB events. The agreement introduces strict controls, particularly restricting high-risk markets involving granular in-game actions, to prevent conflicts of interest and uphold the sport’s integrity. This partnership marks the first formal agreement between a federal regulator and a professional sports league in the prediction market sector. The move highlights the increasing relevance of prediction markets and underscores the importance of robust oversight to prevent fraud and manipulation within the industry.