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Kalshi has stripped its platform of NCAA trademarks after the association demanded their removal. The prediction market still lists events tied to the Division I basketball tournament, but the familiar branded terms are gone.
Instead of “March Madness,” “Sweet Sixteen,” or “Final Four,” users now see generic labels such as “Men’s College Basketball Champion,” “Women’s Semifinals Qualifiers,” and “Men’s Round of 16 Qualifiers.”
The NCAA confirmed the move, saying it had previously warned the company about misuse of its marks. “The NCAA has previously addressed issues with Kalshi illegitimately using NCAA marks for their offerings,” the association stated. “This continues to be a misrepresentation of any NCAA involvement, and we have requested immediate removal of NCAA trademarks.”
Not Kalshi’s first warning
The NCAA’s latest move comes after earlier concerns about how Kalshi described its college sports contracts. In a letter dated October 30, 2025, senior officials told the company that phrases such as “Outcome verified from NCAA,” which linked directly to the association’s website, could mislead users into thinking the NCAA endorsed or partnered with the platform.
The association asked Kalshi to change the wording and add disclaimers, and the company complied.
Trademark law remains key in the dispute, as “March Madness” is a protected NCAA mark, and its commercial use is tightly controlled regardless of whether a product falls under state gambling rules or federal commodities oversight.
Kalshi’s contracts are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, but that oversight does not extend to intellectual property.
NCAA continue to oppose prediction markets and props
The NCAA has kept up its stance against prediction markets involving college sports, with president Charlie Baker repeating the body’s concerns in several public statements over the past months.
In August, the association warned about the spread of prediction markets into college football, saying the expansion raised serious integrity risks. Last month, the NCAA asked the CFTC to stop platforms from listing college sports markets until stronger rules could be put in place.
The group has also pressed regulators to block prop bets tied to college athletes. That demand grew louder after investigators uncovered a point‑shaving scheme in college basketball that involved 39 players across 17 programs.
Following the major scandal, Baker called for a nationwide ban on individual player props and similar wagers, stressing that these bets are especially vulnerable. While some states like Louisiana, Maryland, Ohio, and Vermont have responded positively, others like Missouri have outright rejected the request.
Source: Gambling Insider
