On-chain predictions platform Polymarket has signed a multi-year deal with Major League Soccer in the United States to serve as its exclusive prediction market partner for key events.
Summary
- Polymarket has signed a multi-year agreement with Major League Soccer to become the league’s exclusive prediction market partner.
- Polymarket’s 30-day trading volume was up over 42%.
MLS announced the partnership on Monday, noting that the two companies will offer “new fan experiences” such as second-screen engagement that can be integrated into live matches and digital platforms to reflect real-time sentiment around pivotal moments.
“[…] innovation remains central to how we engage fans and evolve the league,” said Gary Stevenson, MLS Deputy Commissioner and President of Soccer United Marketing, while positioning prediction markets as the “new fan engagement format.”
As part of the deal, Polymarket will be able to “surface real-time collective sentiment around key moments, matches, and season-long storylines,” which, according to CEO and founder Shayne Coplan, would offer fans “a more interactive, data-driven way” to engage with soccer.
The MLS and Polymarket will also monitor trading behavior through independent oversight to “protect the integrity of MLS and Leagues Cup matches,” the announcement noted.
With an aggregate of 3.7 million gross live match viewers per week across all platforms, the latest partnership is expected to significantly boost Polymarket’s exposure to mainstream sports audiences as it continues to set new records in trading activity.
At press time, data from Token Terminal showed that Polymarket’s 30-day cumulative volume was up over 42%.
Much of this momentum has been the direct result of regulatory clearance at the federal level, specifically from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, as the regulator gave an informal green light to prediction markets operating in the United States.
Over the past month, Polymarket has capitalized on this regulatory opening by returning to the U.S. market after a pause of over three years. In the meantime, it has also inked deals with major brands like Yahoo Finance and Dow Jones, along with partnerships in other sports, including the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the National Hockey League.
However, across some U.S. states, the platform, along with its competitor Kalshi and other prediction markets, has faced resistance and been accused of offering contracts that resemble unlicensed sports betting.
Yet, that hasn’t stopped Polymarket from expanding its product suite. Earlier this month, it partnered with real-time data firm Parcl to launch tradable markets based on housing indices, giving users a way to express views on real estate trends without needing direct exposure to the property market.
Source: https://crypto.news/polymarket-signs-multi-year-exclusive-deal-with-major-league-soccer/
