During a time of great uncertainty — both in pro golf tour membership and in online wagering communities — the recent partnership between Bryson DeChambeau and Kalshi, a world-leading prediction market, is fascinating. Just don’t expect it to work for PGA Tour members — particularly if DeChambeau ever wants to become one again.
DeChambeau became the first ambassador signed by the upstart company in a deal announced this week, but the move ultimately casts doubt on a potential PGA Tour return since the Tour does not allow player sponsorships from prediction markets, according to recently updated membership regulations.
In recent months, the Tour broadened its restrictions and regulations around gambling (or gambling-adjacent) sponsorships, noting that “due to the uncertain legal and regulatory framework around “prediction markets”, Gambling Companies that are operating as ‘prediction markets’ (e.g., Kalshi, Polymarket, PredictIt) will not be approved.”
This does not currently apply to DeChambeau as he competes on the LIV Golf tour, but would apply in the plausible instance of reinstatement — an idea that has gained steam recently. DeChambeau has one year remaining on his original LIV contract and is in the middle of tricky extension negotiations. Brooks Koepka was recently reinstated by the PGA Tour via a one-time clause that created a pathway for DeChambeau, too, if he were interested in taking it. DeChambeau clarified his intentions to play out his contract with LIV in 2026.
The popularity of online sports gambling only continues to increase, and avenues similar to standard sports gambling only continue to widen. All of which has caused the PGA Tour to update its player regulations. Tour players are indeed allowed to have sponsorships with gambling companies, but unlike, say, a sponsorship from Cousin’s Subs, all gambling sponsorships must be reviewed and approved by the Tour. Jordan Spieth, for example, has been an active FanDuel promoter since signing a deal with the gambling company in 2021. In 2025, Spieth’s X account featured roughly the same number of FanDuel promos as any other type of post — but each of those promotional posts is subjected to PGA Tour approval.
In 2026, the Tour has drawn a few additional boundaries on what companies fall under this distinction of allowed sponsorships. Firstly, the Tour added iCasinos, lotteries, Indian tribes, horse tracks, sweepstakes casinos, bingo parlors and “any other activities that mimic gambling,” broadening the definition once tightly restricted to just “casinos, sports betting, daily fantasy and other legal gambling companies.” As gambling and gambling-adjacent companies proliferate — and also face evolving regulatory opposition — it’s better for the Tour to cast as wide a net as possible.
The Tour also instituted a clause in its regulations requiring any such company to be “in compliance with all gambling and other applicable laws.” This may ultimately be considered legalese, but it matters in 2026 as Kalshi and other prediction markets continue gaining popularity. Online sports gambling is only legalized at the state level — and is considered illegal in many states, like California and Texas — while prediction markets have controversially been allowed, despite some opposition, since they are considered “exchange” markets where participants buy and sell shares against future outcomes. (To better understand the difference, click here.)
While many people consider prediction markets and sports gambling books to be extremely similar, the PGA Tour is simply acting conservatively on the former. DeChambeau, on the other hand, seems bullish.
Talking to Front Office Sports last week, DeChambeau said Kalshi is where “A lot of our Break 50s or course record series are going to be quite valuable. It’s going to be quite fun for people to see if they can predict if I am going to break enough course records or break 50 with whoever the guest is. That’s what we’re excited for, just creating more gamification for our viewers as well as on LIV. You know, am I going to make a birdie on the next hole? Am I going to win this tournament or that tournament? There’s just so many things you can do with prediction markets. It’s quite fun and entertaining for the fan to engage with LIV Golf and my YouTube series.”
That quote alone strikes an interesting element of PGA Tour player-sponsor regulations. Tour players who do act as ambassadors for gambling companies are not allowed to promote betting, or anything that mimics betting, on a specific player or specific bet.
