EndGame: NBA Talking To Prediction Markets

The U.S. sports betting world moves quickly and unpredictably in 2026. In order to properly take stock of it all, we offer InGame’s “EndGame,” an end-of-week compilation of the top storylines, some overlooked items, and all the other news bits from this past week that we found interesting.

NBA talking about prediction market deal

The NBA could be the next major sports league to reach a partnership with the prediction market sector, Front Office Sports reports. Its article Thursday stated that in a call among league and team executives this week, there was discussion of talks that have taken place with prediction market platforms and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

The report stated that the NBA “is in active discussions with both Kalshi and Polymarket,” with the talks getting a boost from CFTC Chairman Michael Selig’s recent comments that the agency intends to take steps ensuring integrity in sports markets. By partnering directly with the prediction markets, the NBA could gain some control over the type of markets allowed and protection against suspicious trading.

The NHL already has partnership deals with both Kalshi and Polymarket, and MLB has one with Polymarket. The NBA has official sports betting partners in DraftKings and FanDuel. Front Office Sports reported that while there is no time frame for when a deal with the prediction markets might happen, it could be before the start of next season.

One-fourth have active betting account

About one of three American adults has created an online sportsbook account at some point. More than one in four has an active account. About half of males ages 18-49 are among those with active accounts.

Those and other sports betting findings come from the Siena Research Institute and St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School of Communication in an online February survey of 3,084 adults. The survey put a number to public growth, as it stated the 27% of Americans with an active online sportsbook account is up from 22% in 2025 and 19% in 2024.

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Some statistics have not changed much over the three years of surveys, such as a finding that half of respondents believe online sports betting should be legal in all 50 states. However, the survey sponsors found small increases in negative outcomes, such as 60% of bettors saying they have “chased” losses (up from 52% in 2025), 42% admitting they have bet more than they should (up from 37%), and 31% reporting someone expressed concern about their betting (up from 23%).

DraftKings counts on Spanish-soccer tie

DraftKings General Manager of Sports Greg Karamitis sees the June 11-July 29 World Cup as the first test of two major company initiatives: the so-called “super app” unveiled in March and a Spanish language version announced late last year.

“We did some work in the app working purely in Spanish. We’re really, really excited about it,” Karamitis told InGame. “The Spanish customers are actually overwhelmingly soccer-dominant, and I think we’ll be able to get a nice surge of people coming in around that.”

The app is only available for U.S. residents due to know-your-customer requirements. Tourists from other countries attending the World Cup may be able to use prediction markets such as Kalshi or Polymarket if they are from countries where they are allowed to wager here. U.S. residents of states without legal gambling — including the large states of California, Texas, and Georgia — have the same option and can also make use of DraftKings’ prediction market app. DraftKings has retail shops in three states hosting World Cup matches: New Jersey, Missouri, and Washington.

— Brant James

Bet365 taking bets in Michigan now

Bet365 has made Michigan the 17th state where it is offering online sports betting with its launch there Friday. The operator based in England announced various promotional offers on its website for new customers in Michigan, where bet365 has partnerships with the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings.

“This is a mature market with knowledgeable fans, and we’re confident our product stands apart,” the company said in its announcement. At the same time, it launched its online casino product in Michigan.

With today's bet365 sports betting launch in Michigan, the book is live in 17 states:

Arizona
Colorado
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Missouri
New Jersey
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Virginia
— Ryan Butler (@ButlerBets) April 17, 2026

DraftKings latest to announce Alberta interest

DraftKings became the latest operator to announce its intent to join the Alberta sports betting market. In a press release Thursday, the company said customers can now sign up for the platform. DraftKings is live in Ontario, and Alberta would be the company’s 34th North American jurisdiction. It joins BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, PointsBet, and theScore Bet in revealing interest in the province, which has plans to launch operators July 13.

Alberta will be the second Canadian province to go live since Parliament in 2021 decriminalized single-event wagering. Operators launched in Ontario in March 2022. All major operators are expected to enter the market, and gray market operators will be given the option to move into the legal market without penalty.

— Jill R. Dorson

Odds and ends

The Arizona Department of Gaming has a new Responsible Gaming Training Initiative, consisting of three self-paced online sessions lasting a total of about three hours. It is available to all Arizonans interested in learning about issues related to problem gambling and how to address them. A webinar will be held April 28 to learn more.
The National Federation of State High School Associations has launched a new effort to raise awareness about the risks of online sports betting among young people. Through its NFHS Learning Center, it has a free course focused on educating not only student-athletes but coaches, administrators, and parents.