Polymarket partners with Major League Soccer for a prediction market agreement.
On Monday, Major League Soccer revealed a multiyear collaboration with Polymarket, adding to the increasing number of sports leagues and teams forming alliances with prediction markets amid recent controversies and rising public apprehensions regarding the intersection of gambling and sports. The NHL was the first major professional league in the U.S. to establish a partnership with prediction markets in October of the previous year.
Platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi enable users to trade on the yes/no outcomes of various events, including sports. Representatives from these companies assert that they do not provide gambling services but operate more like a stock exchange where shares are bought and sold. In contrast to sportsbooks such as FanDuel and DraftKings, Kalshi and Polymarket can function in all 50 states, including California and Texas, where sports betting remains illegal.
The regulation of prediction markets is a contentious legal matter. Several state gaming regulators have initiated lawsuits against Kalshi, claiming that the company is breaching state laws by offering event contracts that resemble sports wagers. Kalshi contends that it is not subject to state jurisdiction and is instead overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a federal entity.
Earlier this month, the Nevada Gaming Control Board lodged a similar complaint in district court aimed at preventing Polymarket from providing certain event contracts, including those related to sports, arguing that these contracts contravene state wagering regulations.
Chris Schlosser, senior vice president of emerging ventures at MLS, informed ESPN that discussions regarding the partnership commenced in mid-2025. He emphasized that preserving the integrity of the sport was a key concern.
“Polymarket and many of their peers provide markets on MLS. Therefore, we assessed the situation and concluded that if we want to safeguard the integrity of our sport and competition, we must actively engage and determine the best way to collaborate with them to uphold the integrity principles we value, similar to our approach in sports betting,” Schlosser stated.
Schlosser noted that Polymarket’s nationwide accessibility and the opportunity to involve soccer fans in states like California and Texas, where sports betting is prohibited, was “intriguing” for the league.
Polymarket operates globally but is currently invite-only in the United States. Prospective U.S. users must join a waitlist to gain access.
Schlosser mentioned that MLS and Polymarket are exploring methods to engage fans during matches and throughout the season, such as enabling them to observe real-time market activity to trade on anticipated winners or potential MLS champions.
He added that the partnership will incorporate integrity measures, including independent oversight of trading activities in the MLS and Leagues Cup markets by integrity monitors like IC360 and Sportradar. Individuals with potential insider knowledge, including league and club personnel, players, referees, and owners, will be prohibited from trading.
Schlosser conveyed to ESPN that players are restricted from licensing their name, image, and likeness not only for prediction markets but also in other gaming sectors such as sports betting.
