The Chicago Blackhawks have created a first-of-its-kind partnership with a prediction market platform.
Key Takeaways
- The Blackhawks are “proud to share an innovative mindset with Kalshi.”
- The partnership allows for cross-promotions on social media.
- Chicago will also promote Kalshi at home games and on broadcasts.
The NHL team confirmed to Front Office Sports on Tuesday that it has reached a marketing deal with Kalshi, a popular and large trading exchange. Financial details have not been disclosed.
The Blackhawks are the first U.S.-based major professional sports franchise to partner with a prediction market platform.
“We’re proud to share an innovative mindset with Kalshi,” Blackhawks EVP of revenue and strategy Matt Gray said in a statement to Front Office Sports.
Chicago will promote Kalshi at home games and on the hockey team’s broadcast. The two sides will also share intellectual property to allow for cross-promotion on social media beginning this week.
We're excited to be the official prediction market partner of the Chicago Blackhawks for their Centennial season
— Kalshi (@Kalshi) December 23, 2025
The @NHLBlackhawks make history as the first pro sports team to partner with a prediction market
A partnership first with one of the largest fanbases in sports pic.twitter.com/jTQQkBuhsS
Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account
Unique partnership
This agreement comes two months after the NHL signed U.S.-only partnerships with Kalshi and Polymarket. The latter is another global prediction market platform that’s going through an American relaunch.
No other U.S. sports leagues have created marketing agreements with the federally regulated prediction market companies. Kalshi has also entered marketing deals with Pro Pickleball and Baller League, a six-on-six soccer federation.
Many U.S. pro teams are located in state-regulated sports betting jurisdictions. Kalshi offers sports event contracts across 50 states since the platform is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and is not under the same integrity standards as sportsbooks, which has raised some leagues' concerns.
Kalshi is currently tied up in several legal battles after filing lawsuits against Nevada and New Jersey, among other states.
Steering clear
Kalshi burst onto the scene last fall when it received a court order to offer political contracts during the presidential election. Earlier this year, Kalshi made markets available on NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and college sports, among others, giving customers across the country access to contract purchases on the outcomes of games.
The NFL has made it clear it is not yet ready to get involved with marketing prediction markets, which have been spreading rapidly. FanDuel, DraftKings, and Fanatics are major sports betting operators that have recently launched prediction platforms in states without legal sports betting so as not to risk violating the terms of their operating licenses.
The NBA has requested regulatory provisions from the CFTC regarding prediction markets, while Major League Baseball has instructed its players not to use them. The NCAA has publicly stated its disapproval of trading exchanges that offer sports contracts.
