NCAA Basketball Trading on Kalshi Surges to Record High Despite Spot-Fixing Scandal

Trading on NCAA basketball contracts on Kalshi hit an all-time high last week, even after federal indictments revealed that college athletes were allegedly accepting bribes to manipulate point totals. According to Kalshi data analyzed by PokerScout, total NCAA basketball trading for the week starting January 12, 2026, surpassed $350 million, with January 16 — the day after the scandal broke — marking the largest single-day trading volume in Kalshi’s history.

Federal prosecutors charged 20 individuals in connection with the scheme, including 15 former NCAA players. Authorities say more than 39 players across 17 teams were likely involved, with four active players among them. The accused allegedly accepted $10,000–$30,000 to keep personal point totals below betting lines during specific games.

Trading Volume Keeps Climbing

Despite concerns over game integrity, bettors remained active. Week-over-week trading increased 8.3%, while basketball-specific contracts jumped 15.8%, accounting for 74% of all college sports trading now that football season has ended. Individual game contracts can reach multimillion-dollar volumes; for example, $7.5 million changed hands during the Texas A&M vs. Tennessee matchup last Tuesday.

Kalshi’s publicly available, real-time trading data makes it a more detailed barometer of betting activity than traditional sportsbooks, which report revenue with delays and less granular breakdowns. While the platform does not yet offer individual player prop bets—the type involved in the scandal—game winner, spread, and over/under contracts are growing in popularity. Spread and total bets now account for roughly 12–14% of trading, up from 5–7% earlier in the season.

Record-Breaking Day Follows Scandal

Friday, January 16, set a new benchmark, with intraday trading exceeding $100 million — the first time Kalshi has ever hit that mark. Fridays have consistently driven record NCAA trading this season, with eight of the top ten trading days occurring this month alone. Analysts note that this spike likely reflects both the natural weekly trading pattern and heightened interest following the scandal.

Kalshi’s NCAA trading volumes have been steadily climbing since the season began, aside from the Christmas dip, and are expected to remain elevated through March Madness. With the shift from NFL to college basketball in early 2026, Kalshi may continue to see unprecedented engagement levels in the months ahead.