Story byZiv ChenMon, December 8, 2025 at 5:42 PM UTC·3 min readPrediction markets are emerging as a new layer of real-time engagement in professional sports, with former NBA champion Tristan Thompson describing them as an inevitable part of future broadcasts. Key TakeawaysPrediction markets are beginning to integrate into major sports broadcasts through partnerships involving UFC, the NHL, and retail platforms. Tristan Thompson expects real-time prediction data to become a routine part of game coverage and is developing Basketball. fun to support this model. Thompson's work with Basketball. fun and TracyAI reflects a broader push toward fan-driven data platforms. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThompson said the technology will allow fan sentiment and live odds to appear on-screen throughout games, updating from possession to possession rather than over extended periods like political prediction markets. Early adoption is already underway across major properties. UFC parent TKO Group Holdings signed a multiyear agreement with Polymarket to integrate a running fan prediction scoreboard into UFC broadcasts. The feature presents global forecasts during live events, expanding the league's data-driven presentation. The NHL also entered the space last month, becoming the first major professional league to form multi-year partnerships with both Polymarket and Kalshi. Thompson said prediction markets can raise viewership by allowing participants to exit positions before results are finalized, a structure that encourages continuous engagement rather than a single wager.