Published on: April 8, 2026, at 11:23 AM.

Updated on: April 8, 2026, at 11:24 AM.

• LaLiga teams up with Polymarket in the U.S. and Canada
• Polymarket faces ban in Ontario until 2027
• Wealthsimple to launch prediction market platform in Canada focusing solely on economic and environmental forecasts

In a fascinating development for Polymarket in Canada, LaLiga has become the first European soccer league to collaborate with the prediction market platform in both the U.S. and Canada.

Premier Football League

LaLiga, Spain’s premier professional football league featuring 20 renowned clubs such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid, has designated Polymarket as its Official and Exclusive Prediction Market Partner in both the U.S. and Canada through a multi-year agreement.

While Polymarket is active in the U.S., the company faces legal challenges from state regulators. The ongoing debate asserts that prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi, which deal in event contracts regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, essentially function like traditional sports betting, thus necessitating compliance with the same regulations applicable to licensed sports betting operators.

Conversely, the situation in Canada presents a different scenario. Polymarket is prohibited in Ontario until 2027 following a settlement with the Ontario Securities Commission in April 2025. Earlier, in December 2017, Canadian regulators banned binary options, which are contracts that pay a fixed amount if certain conditions are met or nothing otherwise.

Polymarket’s Ban in Ontario

“Most centralized crypto prediction markets operate similarly to binary options with fixed payouts for event bets, making them subject to MI 91‑102’s prohibition on binary options when offered to Canadian retail investors,” stated Matthew Burgoyne, a Partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, and chair of the firm’s Digital Assets and Blockchain practice, in an interview with Casino.org last year.

“Although there is an exemption for contracts with a duration of 30 days or more, this likely does not apply to typical crypto prediction markets, which often feature short-term political and event contracts ranging from hours to a few weeks.”

However, recently, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) indicated that it would permit Wealthsimple to establish a prediction market trading platform, albeit limited to non-sporting or political events. This development has some observers pondering whether it might pave the way for introducing Polymarket-style sports contracts in the future.

Multi-Year Collaboration

Could LaLiga’s announcement signify a breach in the regulatory barriers surrounding prediction markets in Canada? Casino.org has reached out to LaLiga for comments but has not yet received a response.

“The rise of soccer, notably in North America, is driven by diverse, young audiences engaging with the sport across various platforms; thus, our aim is to connect with these groups innovatively,” remarked Boris Gartner, CEO & Partner at Relevent. “It’s crucial for us to transcend traditional outreach to bring fans closer to the game, and partnering with Polymarket is an ideal step in accomplishing that.”

Polymarket has already formed alliances with MLB, NHL, UFC, and MLS. The NHL, in particular, has embraced prediction markets extensively, as Commissioner Gary Bettman emphasized that the league will oversee what predictions markets can offer, thus maintaining integrity by removing any markets that might raise concerns.

Unmatched Fan Experiences

“Our mission is to provide fans with a more engaging way to follow their teams, allowing real-time reflections on player performances, match results, and season predictions,” stated Shayne Coplan, Founder and CEO of Polymarket. “Collaborating with LaLiga enhances this interactive experience for one of the most passionate fanbases globally, offering North American audiences a novel approach to engaging with the league.”

The collaboration entails significant broadcast visibility, digital content geared towards fans, and exclusive experiences such as VIP match access and virtual meet-and-greets with LaLiga legends.

According to their announcement, LaLiga and Polymarket intend to collaboratively “develop a responsible and transparent framework that enhances innovative fan involvement while upholding the highest standards of sporting integrity.”