thors looking to spruce up their writing with issues-related statistics can now make use of Polymarket after the company recently announced a deal with the publishing platform last week.
The agreement allows users to integrate Polymarket data directly into their content. Much of Substack’s offerings are opinion based and adding event contract data may allow authors additional context and statistics to back up their opinions.
“Journalism is better when it’s backed by live markets,” Substack posted on Twitter/X.
Some are not on board with these types of deals.
Prediction Market Firms And Journalism
This is just the latest partnership among sports prediction firms and news and social media companies. Polymarket partnered with Twitter/X in 2025 and Kalshi inked a deal with CNN in December.
Not everyone believes mixing gambling with journalism is a good idea.
“This is a bad idea,” Brian Mortiz wrote in his Sports Media Guy Substack newsletter. “It is the kind of thing that could have long-term negative repercussions on online sports journalism. It strikes at the heart of the production of ethical sports journalism.
“… One of the biggest potential ethical landmines has been the possibility of insider trading. The idea that a sports journalist could place a bet on something they learn before reporting it. Or that they could write something to deliberately shift the betting lines.”
Beyond the partnership, Polymarket is also part of Substack’s pilot sponsorship program, “supporting a cohort of creators who integrate these tools into their work,” Substack cofounder and CEO Chris Best posted on X.
Prediction Markets Remain Controversial
After launching into sports event contracts last year, prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi have faced considerable controversy. State regulators have alleged the platforms are simply sports betting and violate state gaming laws.
In January, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) proposed the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026. The bill prohibits federal elected officials, political appointees, executive branch employees, and congressional staff from buying, selling, or exchanging prediction market contracts tied to government policy when they possess “material nonpublic information or could reasonably obtain such information through their official duties.”
Several states have faced off in court over the last year with event contract firms. A Massachusetts judge recently granted a preliminary injunction against Kalshi, barring the company from offering sports contracts in that state. Polymarket is no longer offering prediction markets in Nevada after a judge granted a restraining order to state gaming regulators.
In January, Tennessee became one of the latest states to send cease-and-desist letters to prediction market companies offering sports contracts.
Despite some concerns among federal legislators regarding consumer protections and potential insider trading, companies like Kalshi and Polymarket have said their offerings differ from traditional sports betting. They argue that event contracts are solely regulated at the federal level by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
