Kalshi Expands MLB Partnerships to 25% of League in 2026

Context

Kalshi, one of the leading US-regulated prediction market platforms, has announced prediction market partnerships with the Los Angeles Dodgers and four additional Major League Baseball teams. Following Tuesday's announcement, the total number of MLB clubs with active partnerships to prediction market operators now stands at approximately 25% of the league's 30 franchises.

This latest expansion marks a watershed moment for prediction markets in mainstream professional sports, demonstrating growing acceptance among traditionally conservative sports organizations. The Dodgers, one of baseball's most storied franchises, joining the Kalshi roster adds significant credibility to the prediction market category.

What This Means

The rapid expansion of prediction market partnerships across MLB signals a fundamental shift in how professional sports leagues view alternative wagering products. Unlike traditional sportsbooks focused on outcomes betting, prediction markets allow fans to trade predictions on specific in-game events and player performances with real-time price discovery.

For Kalshi and competitors, MLB partnerships provide direct access to engaged fan bases and official league endorsements that carry substantial marketing value. These deals typically include revenue-sharing arrangements, official league branding rights, and integration with team digital properties. The Dodgers partnership particularly strengthens Kalshi's West Coast presence and gives the platform exposure to one of baseball's most digitally sophisticated fan bases.

Operators pursuing B2B iGaming outreach should recognize that major sports league partnerships have become table-stakes for credibility in the prediction market space. The fact that 25% of MLB now has such deals suggests a tipping point has been reached, where non-participation may become competitively disadvantageous for teams seeking additional revenue streams and fan engagement tools.

From a regulatory perspective, these partnerships indicate that US sports leagues and governing bodies are comfortable with prediction markets as distinct from traditional sports betting, suggesting different regulatory frameworks may emerge.

What to Watch

Industry observers should monitor whether other major sports leagues—particularly the NBA, NFL, and NHL—accelerate their own prediction market partnerships in response to MLB's adoption. If adoption spreads similarly across these leagues, prediction markets could become the primary non-traditional wagering product offered by North American professional sports.

The terms of these partnerships matter significantly. Operators should track whether leagues demand exclusive or non-exclusive arrangements, what revenue splits are negotiated, and how prominently prediction markets are featured in official digital products. These terms will likely establish precedents for future deals across sports and potentially other entertainment verticals.

Finally, watch for international expansion signals. If MLB partnerships prove highly profitable and operationally successful, Kalshi and competitors may pursue similar deals with European football leagues, cricket boards, and other global sports properties.