The New York Yankees have announced an official partnership with prediction market brand Polymarket. This marks the second such deal in Major League Baseball, following a recent agreement between the New York Mets and NoVig. Under the terms of the agreement, Polymarket will be featured in advertisements throughout Yankee Stadium and on LED branding behind home plate during games broadcast on the YES Network.
Polymarket operates as a platform where users can buy and sell contracts based on the outcomes of real-world events, spanning sports, elections, and various other topics. The partnership comes at a time when prediction markets are facing increased regulatory attention in New York. The state's Attorney General, Letitia James, and Governor Kathy Hochul are pursuing legal action against Kalshi, a primary competitor to Polymarket, alleging it operated an unlicensed sports betting business within the state.
While Polymarket is not implicated in the current lawsuit, its agreement with the Yankees highlights the evolving landscape of sports partnerships and prediction markets. Polymarket is already recognized as the official prediction market of Major League Baseball, with a previously reported deal valued at up to $300 million over three years. Major League Baseball reportedly has a clause that allows for termination of its agreement if prediction markets are deemed to violate state laws. It remains unclear if the Yankees' deal with Polymarket includes a similar exit provision.
"We are excited to begin a relationship with Polymarket — Major League Baseball’s prediction market partner," said Michael Tusiani, Senior Vice President of Partnerships for the Yankees. "Through signage and fan experience opportunities, we look forward to elevating Polymarket’s brand awareness both at Yankee Stadium and across our fan base." The President of Sports Business Development at Polymarket, Ari Borod, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, "We are proud to become a partner of one of the most iconic teams, not just in baseball, but in all of sports. Yankees fans are among the most passionate in sports, and Yankee Stadium is a natural home for Polymarket, where the questions driving our markets come to life throughout the season."