NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo joins Kalshi as an investor

Source: TechCrunch

Image Credit: Patrick McDermott / Contributor / Getty Images

Giannis Antetokounmpo joins Kalshi as a shareholder

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks announced Friday that he has joined prediction‑market platform Kalshi as a shareholder, becoming the first NBA player to invest directly in the company.

“The internet is full of opinions. I decided it was time to make some of my own,” Antetokounmpo wrote in a social‑media post. “Today, I’m joining Kalshi as a shareholder. We all on Kalshi now.”
View the post on Instagram

Social media reaction

• On Reddit, users described the move as “literally a conflict of interest,” called Kalshi “cancerous,” and questioned whether the investment is even allowed.
  Reddit discussion

Regulatory context

According to The Athletic, the NBA’s recent collective bargaining agreement permits players to advertise and hold stakes of up to 1 % in sports‑betting companies, provided they do not promote league‑related wagers.
Source: The Athletic

Kalshi partnership

Kalshi announced that it will collaborate with Antetokounmpo on marketing initiatives and live events. In line with the company’s “strict terms of service that ban insider trading and market manipulation,” Antetokounmpo will be prohibited from trading on markets related to the NBA.