Kalshi Lands First Pro Sports Parntership With Blackhawks

Kalshi has finally made its first partnership with a US pro sports team.

The prediction market industry leader announced a new deal with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks. The deal makes Kalshi the official prediction market partner of the team, and will allow the operator marketing rights during games and in the arena. It is the second major deal in the sport, with Kalshi and Polymarket becoming official partners of the NHL.

The deal is the first of its kind, and comes at a great time for Kalshi. With Fanatics, DraftKings, and FanDuel all entering the industry, the operator’s competition is growing fast.

 While the sports betting giants have existing partnerships with pro teams across all the major sports leagues, those are not expected to carry over to their prediction platforms.

While Kalshi hailed the deal as confirmation that the prediction market industry is here to stay, those words still ring hollow. The Blackhawks deal is a win, but the other pro sports leagues and the NCAA have refused to accept the industry. Instead, they have issued warnings and supported efforts to crack down on prediction markets.

State and City Will Have Complaints

As prediction markets have spread, the Illinois sports betting market is in turmoil. State taxes have been significantly increased for operators, resulting in additional fees for bettors. While the market remains profitable, the relationship between lawmakers and sportsbooks have been shattered.

The state has been fighting to keep unregulated prediction market operators out, but has not been successful. That allows Kalshi to operate in the state without having to follow regulations or pay the high tax rates. Their presence is expected to have a negative impact on the sports betting market, which won’t change as more rivals emerge.

The city of Chicago will also be unhappy with the deal. The city council has been looking to increase tax revenue from gambling, which Kalshi is threatening.