During a time of great uncertainty – both in pro golf tour membership and in the online betting 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 — especially if DeChambeau wants to become one again.
DeChambeau became the first ambassador signed by the new company in a deal announced this week, but the move ultimately casts doubt on a The possible return of the PGA Tour as the Tournament does not allow player sponsorships from prediction markets, per recently updated membership regulations.
In recent months, the Tour expanded 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 operating as ‘prediction markets’ (eg Kalshi, Polymarket, PredictIt) will not be approved.”
That doesn’t currently apply to DeChambeau as he competes on the LIV Golf Tour, but it would apply in a credible reinstatement case — an idea that has gained steam recently. DeChambeau has one year remaining on his original LIV contract and is at the middle of the complex extension negotiations. Brooks Koepka was recently reinstated by the PGA Tour via a one-time clause that created a path for DeChambeau as well, if he was interested in taking him. DeChambeau clarified his intentions to fulfill his contract with LIV in 2026.
The popularity of online sports gambling only continues to grow and the avenues similar to standard sports gambling only continue to expand. All of this has led the PGA Tour to update the 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 gaming company in 2021. In 2025, Spieth’s X Account featured roughly the same number of FanDuel promotions as any other type of post – but each of those promotional posts is subject to PGA Tour approval.
In 2026, the Tour has drawn some additional boundaries on which companies fall under this distinction of permitted sponsorships. First, the Tour added iCasinos, lotteries, Indian tribes, horse tracks, lottery casinos, bingo parlors and “any other activity that imitates gambling,” expanding the once strictly limited definition to “casinos, sports betting, daily fantasy and other legal gambling companies.” As gambling and gambling companies proliferate — and also face emerging regulatory opposition — the Tour is better off casting as wide a net as possible.
The tournament also placed a clause in its rules requiring any such company to “comply with all applicable gambling and other laws.” This may ultimately be considered legit, but it matters in 2026 as Kalshi and other prediction markets continue to gain popularity. Online sports gambling is legalized only at the state level – and is considered illegal in many states, such as California and Texas – while prediction markets have been controversially allowed, despite some opposition, as they are considered “exchange” markets where participants buy and sell stocks against future outcomes. (To better understand the difference, click here.)
While many people consider prediction markets and sportsbooks to be remarkably similar, the PGA Tour is simply acting conservatively toward the former. DeChambeau, on the other hand, looks Bulgarian.
Talking to Sports Front Office Last week, DeChambeau said that Kalshi is where “A lot of our Break 50 or course record series will be pretty valuable. It’s going to be a lot of fun for people to see if they can predict if I’m going to break enough course records or break 50 with whoever is invited. That’s what we’re excited about, just creating more gamification like you’re going to do well for our viewers. Next hole Will I win this tournament or that tournament There are so many things you can do with the prediction markets.
That quote alone hits on an interesting element of the PGA Tour’s player sponsor regulations. Tournament players who act as ambassadors for gambling companies are NO is allowed to promote betting, or anything that simulates betting, on a specific player or bet.
