Kalshi has struck a multi-year deal to become the Boston Red Sox‘s official and exclusive prediction market partner, one of five such partnerships the company announced Monday with MLB clubs that also include the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants.
Kalshi publicly announced the five deals on Tuesday morning, though Dan Bernstein of Sportico first reported a link between Kalshi and the Red Sox last week.
The deal with the Red Sox sticks out a bit more than the others given the relationship between Kalshi and Massachusetts right now. Massachusetts was granted a preliminary injunction in January barring Kalshi from offering sports prediction markets in the state.
“The [Massachusetts Gaming Commission] encourages those who choose to bet on sports to do so with an operator licensed and regulated by the MGC that provides access to robust responsible gaming tools and PlayWell resources,” commission spokesman Thomas Mills told LSR.
How the deal came to light
An X post on Aug. 21 highlighted promotions for the Red Sox’s weekend series against the Giants, Kalshi’s name appeared in the top right, “presenting” the graphic. The bottom of the graphic read, in Kalshi’s colors, “see what happens next, on Kalshi.” The team sent an email to customers promoting Kalshi’s product later that day.
In the Red Sox’s Tuesday announcement, the team explained the partnership will include Kalshi-branded LED signage around Fenway Park, social and digital activations, as well as broadcast radio integrations on WEEI.
Kalshi’s announcement made it sound like each deal could be different, giving details with the Dodgers as an example. There will be in-stadium signage, plus social, online, radio, and fan activations. Kalshi also earned naming rights for Dodger Stadium’s Gold Glove Bar.
Kalshi also disclosed “Kalshi-specific offers” in its press release. The Red Sox did not make such claims in its public announcement.
Different messaging for different jurisdictions
Kalshi is treating the partnerships a bit differently in the releases. While sports predictions are not allowed in Massachusetts, Kalshi can operate freely in California and Georgia.
For example, Kalshi’s Head of Sports Partnerships Adam Barrick did not make any sports mentions in the Red Sox release.
“Simply said, the Red Sox are New England and culturally synonymous with the entire region,” Barrick said. “We couldn’t be more excited to align with such a historic franchise and partner with them on enabling Red Sox fans to express their fandom via prediction markets.”
But Kalshi’s full release with all five team deals had more of a sports focus.
“The idea is that fans are already engaging with their favorite teams on Kalshi, so it only makes sense to extend that fandom to some of the most beloved baseball teams in America,” Barrick said in Kalshi’s release.
The Red Sox are touting Kalshi as the United States’ first federally regulated financial exchange, which allows users to make live predictions on ongoing events. Massachusetts Atty. Gen. Andrea Joy Campbell is arguing the opposite in court, at least for sports offerings. Despite that, the Red Sox are excited to have Kalshi as the team’s Official and Exclusive Prediction Market Partner.
All 5 have regulated gaming partners
All five MLB teams that are now partnered with Kalshi also have ties to the regulated sports betting industries, too.
The Red Sox have deals with regulated sports betting operators BetMGM and DraftKings, with a BetMGM sign fairly unmissable on Fenway’s Green Monster in left field.
The Braves are partnered with PrizePicks, a daily fantasy sports and predictions operator, who are based in Atlanta.
The three California teams, Dodgers, Giants and Padres, are all partnered with various commercial and tribal gaming operators. California tribes are actively trying to fight back against sports predictions and are planning a push for legal sports betting in 2028.
