Federal prediction market platform Kalshi has officially scrubbed all references to “March Madness” from its exchange following a formal trademark enforcement request from the NCAA.
While the platform continues to offer event contracts on the NCAA Division I basketball tournament, it has pivoted to generic terminology to avoid a looming intellectual property dispute.
A Generic Pivot for College Hoops
The platform, which operates under the oversight of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has replaced iconic branding with descriptive titles such as “Men’s College Basketball Champion” and “Men’s Round of 16 Qualifiers”. This follows a clear directive from the collegiate governing body regarding the unauthorized use of its commercial assets.
The NCAA confirmed the move in a statement to GamblingHarm.org:
“The NCAA has previously addressed issues with Kalshi illegitimately using NCAA marks for their offerings. This continues to be a misrepresentation of any NCAA involvement, and we have requested immediate removal of NCAA trademarks.”
Escalating Tensions Over Integrity
This is not the first time the two entities have clashed. In October 2025, the NCAA warned Kalshi regarding March Madness, that phrases like “Outcome verified from NCAA” were misleading and implied an endorsement that did not exist.
Beyond trademarks, the NCAA remains a staunch opponent of sports-based prediction markets. In January, the organization urged the CFTC to halt these markets entirely, citing the high risk of manipulation following a point-shaving scheme that implicated 39 players across 17 programs.
NCAA President Charlie Baker has since called for a nationwide ban on collegiate player prop bets, arguing that the rapid expansion of these platforms poses a fundamental threat to the integrity of amateur sports.
