MLB partners with Polymarket, signs CFTC pact to oversee prediction markets

Major League Baseball (MLB) has signed a multi-year agreement with Polymarket and a separate memorandum of understanding with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, marking its formal entry into the fast-growing prediction markets sector.

Under the deal, Polymarket becomes MLB’s exclusive prediction market partner, gaining access to the league’s trademarks, logos, and official data, along with digital promotional opportunities during games and online. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The partnership will allow Polymarket to offer event contract markets tied to MLB games, while working with the league to restrict markets deemed vulnerable to manipulation, such as those involving individual pitches or managerial decisions.

Separately, MLB’s agreement with the CFTC establishes an information-sharing framework aimed at strengthening oversight and integrity in prediction markets linked to professional baseball. The memorandum does not override existing laws or regulations, but provides a structure for cooperation between the league and the federal regulator.

“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,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said.

“Protecting the integrity of the game on the field is our top priority. By engaging in this community, we are able to work together to create clear boundaries with the goal of mitigating risk while providing fan engagement opportunities,” he added.

The agreements come as MLB seeks to monitor trading activity tied to its games and players and to prevent potential manipulation, amid an ongoing investigation into alleged pitch-level betting misconduct involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz.

Under the MOU, both parties will use shared information strictly for official purposes. “MLB will use the information received from the CFTC pursuant to this MOU solely in connection with protecting the integrity and public confidence in professional baseball,” the agreement states.

“The CFTC will use the information received from MLB pursuant to this MOU solely in connection with its statutory responsibilities, missions, purposes, functions, and activities under the Commodity Exchange Act, including promoting the integrity, resilience, and vibrancy of the event contracts market.”

CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig said the agreement would help safeguard emerging markets.

“The MOU is a collaborative step towards promoting the integrity and resilience of the prediction markets relating to professional baseball,” he said. “Through this MOU, the CFTC is well-positioned to add additional tools to protect these markets and its participants from fraud, manipulation, and other abuses.”

“I thank MLB and Commissioner Rob Manfred for partnering with the CFTC and taking a leading role in protecting the integrity of these growing markets,” Selig added.

For Polymarket, the deal strengthens its presence in North American professional sports, adding MLB to partnerships with leagues such as the NHL, UFC, and MLS. The company, which exited the U.S. market in 2022 due to regulatory issues, re-entered in December 2025 after acquiring a derivatives exchange.

“Polymarket is about bringing fans closer to the moments that define sports,” said Shayne Coplan, founder and CEO of Polymarket. “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.”

Prediction markets, which allow users to trade on the outcome of real-world events, have drawn increasing scrutiny from regulators over their resemblance to sports betting and the lack of uniform oversight compared with state-regulated sportsbooks. MLB’s move could prompt other major leagues, including the NBA and NFL, to explore similar partnerships as the sector expands.