The collaboration between the gambling sector and news outlets appears to be intensifying.
Under a recent agreement with DraftKings, CBS News-affiliated local stations are required to broadcast four segments related to DraftKings each day from October 26 to November 3. This arrangement has caused concern among some executives who feel that combining gambling with news reporting might weaken public trust in the electoral process, as reported by Status.
It’s worth noting that CBS News isn’t the first media entity to engage in such partnerships.
In late 2025, CNN entered into a partnership with the prediction market firm Kalshi, which was shortly followed by CNBC announcing a similar collaboration. CNBC mentioned plans to integrate exclusive predictions market data from Kalshi into their programming, including shows like ‘Squawk Box’ and ‘Fast Money’, providing viewers with real-time insights about event forecasts and changing probabilities. Additionally, Kalshi will have a dedicated CNBC page showcasing selected markets.
The Associated Press also partnered with Kalshi back in March, emphasizing its longstanding role in American democracy as a reliable source for election night results. David Scott, an AP Elections vice president, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, aiming to enhance access to trusted election data.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal has struck a deal with Polymarket, a competitor to Kalshi, emphasizing the importance of making prediction market data available as a growing source of real-time insights about future events. Almar Latour, the CEO of Dow Jones and publisher of The Wall Street Journal, stated that this partnership seeks to aid consumers in interpreting market sentiment and assessing risks alongside traditional financial indicators.
However, critics raise concerns that these prediction markets, which allow betting on events as trivial as whether a CNN host will use certain words during broadcasts, open up significant ethical dilemmas. There’s a worry that reporters might alter their coverage of breaking news to benefit from bets placed on these platforms.
A representative from CBS News clarified that the sponsorship arrangement is purely commercial and will not interfere with editorial decisions or election coverage.
