In a move that has drawn sharp political rebuke, Major League Baseball has embraced a controversial new partner, raising immediate questions about the league’s evolving relationship with gambling. Considering it something that many thought MLB would never do, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is not happy.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reposted Polymarket’s March 19 announcement of partnering with MLB, and the caption revealed the grave impact this deal can hold.

“This is sad. I know as a politician these companies are going to spend a billion dollars against me for saying it. Pervasive gambling is not good for society. It turns life into a casino, traps people in addiction & debt, surges domestic violence, and fosters manipulation.”

MLB shocked fans by naming Polymarket as its official prediction market exchange.

Prediction markets allow users to bet on sports and other events, including in politics and pop culture, through the buying and selling of contracts, similar to a stock exchange. These markets are often considered more accurate for predicting outcomes than traditional betting methods due to the collective wisdom of participants.

Prices reflect market-driven probability. If a team’s chances of winning increase, the cost of a “yes” contract increases, allowing traders to profit from market movements.

If things click, as predicted by Cortez, users will likely get uncontrollably attached.

The deal is worth $300 million over 4 years and gives Polymarket rights to MLB logos. MLB has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to share integrity information and meet regularly about potential risks.

 Commissioner Rob Manfred said this partnership is “an imperative step” to protect baseball’s integrity and to “mitigate risk while providing fan engagement.”

 Polymarket’s chief, Shayne Borod, said working with MLB and regulators can create new ways for fans to engage with the game while still protecting integrity.

Despite the assurance, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez’s statement came as some states, like Arizona, criminally charged other prediction market platforms.

Just this Monday, prosecutors from Arizona filed criminal charges against the prediction market Kalshi. The 20-count complaint alleged that the brand operates a gambling business in the state without a license and takes illegal bets on elections.

In fact, Polymarket, itself, was infamous around the USA, especially from 2022 to 2025.

The platform was not initially registered with regulators. So, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) accused the brand’s event-based binary options market of violating federal regulations (unregulated derivatives-trading platform). This led to a settlement that banned U.S. users.

Polymarket settled the dispute by paying a $1.4 million fine for the same. Till 2025, the US market was blocked from using the platform. But then, they worked to align with the Commission for a potential return.

In November, the CFTC granted Polymarket an Amended Order of Designation, allowing it to operate as a regulated exchange.

Yet, the tension is real, given all that the big leagues have already seen.

The impact of gambling on MLB players

Baseball’s long history with gambling and betting still stings in 2026. All this traces back to the 1919 Black Sox scandal.

Players fixed the World Series. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of intentionally losing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for payment from a gambling syndicate, possibly led by organized crime figure Arnold Rothstein.

Legal sports betting in the U.S. brings money and risk, with firms reporting billions in wagers each year.

We have seen umpire Pat Hoberg in 2025. Allegedly, he found that he shared betting accounts with a friend who bet on baseball games. Reportedly, Hoberg even deleted evidence about the league’s investigation. Ultimately, this led to MLB firing the umpire.

The case of Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz became a big chapter in this whole gambling scandal. These Cleveland Guardians pitchers were accused of rigging what pitches they would throw for their financial gain. They have now been placed on unpaid leave. Reportedly, the financial amount involved in this was $450,000.

Baseball fans feel the weight of gambling’s growth across the country. The sport’s reaction to gambling problems is sharp. More problems will arise when all of it impacts the families of players or the prediction market platform users.

Fans abusing players on social media and threatening to hurt families are nothing new.

Still, MLB hopes to find middle ground. Now, it remains to be seen what steps MLB can take if the entire matter jeopardizes the sports’ integrity!