The Yankees aren’t afraid to jump into bed with a prediction market.
American sports’ most prestigious franchise announced an official partnership with prediction market brand Polymarket on Thursday, the second of its kind after the Mets revealed a deal with NoVig last week.
Polymarket will now be featured on advertisements throughout Yankee Stadium before and after games, while also appearing on LED branding behind home plate during Yankees games aired on YES Network.
Polymarket announced a surprising partnership with the Yankees given the landscape of prediction markets in New York. Getty Images
Polymarket allows people to buy and sell contracts on real-life events, ranging from sports to elections and many more obscure topics.
It’s shocking to see the Yankees partner with a prediction market brand, as New York Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul are suing Polymarket’s main competitor, Kalshi.
“We are excited to begin a relationship with Polymarket — Major League Baseball’s predictionmarket partner,” Yankees Senior Vice President of Partnerships Michael Tusiani told The Post.
“Through signage and fan experience opportunities, we look forward to elevating Polymarket’sbrand awareness both at Yankee Stadium and across our fan base.”
The suit alleges that Kalshi has run an unlicensed sports betting business in New York.
Polymarket is not named in the lawsuit, and the exchange already has a footing in baseball’s national pastime as the official prediction market of Major League Baseball.
Polymarket and the Yankees agreed to a deal, the two companies announced on Thursday. NurPhoto via Getty Images
Front Office Sports previously reported that the deal between Polymarket and MLB is worth up to $300 million over three years.
MLB does have an escape hatch, though, if the courts rule prediction markets violate state laws, which it appears that New York is beginning to lay the groundwork for with its Kalshi lawsuit.
Learn all you need to know about MLB Betting
It is unclear if the Yankees have a similar exit provision as MLB does.
“We are proud to become a partner of one of the most iconic teams, not just in baseball, but inall of sports,” said Ari Borod, President of Sports Business Development at Polymarket.
“Yankees fans are among the most passionate in sports, and Yankee Stadium is a natural homefor Polymarket, where the questions driving our markets come to life throughout the season.”
