Prediction market leader Kalshi has scored big in the World Cup, landing a partnership agreement with Argentina’s national team and its legendary captain, Lionel Messi, at the forefront. With major soccer action on the horizon, it’s the perfect time for fans to maximize their wagering value by exploring today’s offshore sportsbook bonuses.
Kalshi Getting a Kick Out of Messi
Kalshi continues its relentless pursuit of star-studded spokespeople, and this time it partnered with Argentina’s national team, a club that has a global reach due to its status as reigning World Cup champions and its iconic team captain, Lionel Messi. Kalshi hit the World Cup jackpot, and it wants the world to know.
Messi posted an ad on his Instagram page on Sunday, promoting signed AFA jerseys from Messi and his teammates, Nicolas Otamendi and Rodrigo De Paul, through the trading exchange. This is Kalshi’s most recent and splashiest sports endorsement agreement to date.
“Argentina is the standard of excellence in world football,” Adam Barrick, head of sports partnerships at Kalshi, said. “That’s exactly who Kalshi belongs alongside. We’re building the future of how people engage with live events, and partnering with the reigning champions of the beautiful game is the clearest signal we can send about where we’re headed.”
Although Messi may be the most recognized athlete in the world, he is far from the lone superstar to represent Kalshi. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Edmonton Oilers phenom Connor McDavid, LIV Golf player and former PGA star Bryson DeChambeau, and the WNBA’s 2x MVP Breanna Stewart are also partners of the increasingly popular prediction market platform.
Genius Idea
The partnership agreement extends through the World Cup and will feature a range of joint marketing initiatives, including co-branded promotions, coordinated social media efforts such as the campaign involving Messi, and the use of the Argentine Football Association’s branding and intellectual property by Kalshi.
As part of the deal, Kalshi can incorporate Argentina’s team colors and official crest into its marketing materials. In addition, Genius Sports, the national team’s official data and streaming partner, will supply the data that powers Kalshi’s prediction markets, creating an enhanced experience for fans in regions where sports betting is legal.
“By using verified official data as a consistent source of truth, the agreement will contribute to enhancing transparency while reducing reliance on unofficial or delayed data sources,” Kalshi said in the statement. “Kalshi will also participate in Genius Sports’ integrity information-sharing processes to strengthen market transparency and provide professional sports leagues with greater visibility into related market activity.”
The company has been embroiled in legal battles with state gaming commissions and their respective attorneys general regarding jurisdictional authority. Kalshi is federally regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and has been offering sports event contracts in all 50 states, regardless of whether they have legalized mobile sports betting or not.
The states have argued that Kalshi pays no state taxes on the revenues generated by sports event contracts and is cannibalizing business from those mobile sportsbooks that pay hefty licensing fees and taxes that run the gamut from 6.75% to 51%.
However, conflicting rulings at the federal, state, and appellate levels have muddied the legal waters, making safe betting tips more essential than ever, while many industry insiders believe the matter won’t be settled until the US Supreme Court hears the case and issues a definitive ruling.
