MLB Inks Exclusive Deal with Prediction-Market Company Ahead of Opening Day

Baseball enters 3-year, $300 million agreement with Polymarket to be the league's official prediction market exchange.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 2:56pm by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Major League Baseball has officially entered the prediction-market business, signing an exclusive 3-year, $300 million deal with Polymarket to be the league's official prediction market exchange ahead of the 2026 season. The agreement allows Polymarket to use MLB marks and logos as well as access official data from Sportradar.

Why it matters

Prediction markets allow fans to trade contracts on real-world sports outcomes, creating new engagement opportunities but also potential integrity risks that MLB wants to proactively manage. The deal with Polymarket and an MOU with the CFTC aim to provide oversight and set clear boundaries around these emerging markets.

The details

As part of the deal, Polymarket will become the exclusive prediction market exchange for MLB, gaining rights to use league marks, logos, and official data. MLB will have input on the rules governing the billions expected to be traded on baseball this season. The league also signed an MOU with CFTC chairman Michael Selig to share information confidentially and meet regularly to discuss potential integrity threats.

  • The 2026 MLB season is set to open on Wednesday, March 25 with the New York Yankees visiting the San Francisco Giants.

The players

Polymarket

A prediction-market company that has existing deals with the NHL, MLS, and UFC. Polymarket will become the exclusive prediction market exchange for MLB under this new agreement.

Rob Manfred

The Commissioner of Major League Baseball, who stated that the new deals with Polymarket and the CFTC are 'imperative steps in proactively managing the new and rapidly growing prediction market space' and protecting the integrity of the game.

Michael Selig

The Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), who signed a memorandum of understanding with MLB to share information confidentially and discuss potential integrity threats posed by specific prediction markets.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“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. 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.”

— Rob Manfred, Commissioner, Major League Baseball

What’s next

MLB and the CFTC will meet regularly to discuss potential threats to the integrity of the game posed by specific prediction markets.

The takeaway

This deal represents MLB's proactive approach to managing the emerging prediction market space and ensuring the integrity of the game, while also creating new fan engagement opportunities. The partnership with Polymarket and oversight from the CFTC aim to establish clear boundaries and mitigate risks around these rapidly growing markets.