Polymarket Partners With Rangers for First Pro Sports Deal

Polymarket landed another big victory this week. 

The prediction market operator has announced a new deal with the NHL’s New York Rangers. It will grant Polymarket prediction market advertising rights, marking the company’s first partnership with a US pro sports team. 

The landmark deal continues a hot streak for Polymarket. The operator recently signed deals with Dow Jones and the publisher of the Wall Street Journal. The deals will add Polymarket data and advertising, significantly increasing the operator’s brand exposure.

The deals come at a critical time as more prediction market platforms go live. Kalshi got a head start on the rest of the industry, which now includes sportsbook giants like FanDuel, DraftKings, and Fanatics. The Polymarket brand is not nearly as well-known as its rivals in the US, making advertising deals crucial.

The Rangers are the second NHL team to add a prediction partner. The Blackhawks signed the first deal, partnering with industry-leading Kalshi.

“The Rangers have one of the most dedicated fanbases in sports, and this partnership introduces a new, dynamic layer of engagement to the fan experience,” said Shayne Coplan, Founder and CEO of Polymarket, in a press release. “Prediction markets offer fans a real-time, interactive way to connect with the game, and the Rangers are an ideal franchise to bring this experience to a broader audience.”

Other Pro Leagues Wary of Prediction Industry

While the NHL has been happy to support the new prediction market industry, the other big four pro sports leagues have not.

The NBA, NFL, and MLB have all expressed concerns over the new industry, including its impact on betting scandals. They have publicly backed their sports betting partners and warned players and staff that they consider prediction markets gambling. 

While none of those leagues have changed course, some worry if that will soon change. The sportsbooks that launched prediction platforms have deals with teams from all three. While they may not extend to predictions, the existing relationship could lead leagues to trust them over operators like Kalshi or Polymarket.