UFC and Polymarket: A New Era of Fan Interaction
The UFC’s parent company has announced a multi-year partnership with Polymarket, marking a milestone in the expansion of prediction markets in the American sports arena. This collaboration paves the way for the official launch of Polymarket in the United States. Prediction markets, such as Polymarket, allow users to speculate on the outcome of events, including sports. Unlike traditional bookmakers, Polymarket operates in all 50 states, even in those where sports betting is not legal. Currently available globally, Polymarket is expected to launch in the United States in the coming months. UFC will integrate Polymarket odds into its live broadcasts, displaying market activity during the fights through a “fan prediction scoreboard”.Shayne Coplan, founder and CEO of Polymarket, highlighted that this alliance will allow fans to buy and sell shares, as if they were stocks, during the course of the fights, which will generate new interaction dynamics. It should be noted that the NHL was the first American professional league to announce an agreement with prediction markets. The regulation of prediction markets is a controversial legal issue. Several state gaming regulators have sued Kalshi, a competitor of Polymarket, alleging that the company violates state laws by offering event contracts that simulate sports betting. Kalshi argues that it is not subject to state jurisdiction and is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a federal agency. After observing the growth of prediction markets, FanDuel and DraftKings announced that they will launch prediction markets, including sports event contracts, in the coming months.By partnering with Shayne and his team at Polymarket, we are opening a new dimension of engagement for fans.
Ari Emanuel, CEO of TKO, parent company of UFC
This association with the UFC comes just one week after suspicious bets led to accusations of match-fixing in a featherweight fight between Isaac Dulgarian and Yadier del Valle on November 1. The UFC terminated Dulgarian’s contract and is collaborating with the FBI in an investigation into the unusual betting activity.
