NFL Presses CFTC for Tighter Controls on Sports Prediction Markets

The NFL’s submission, sent to CFTC Chair Michael Selig, challenges the agency’s draft framework for event contracts. While the league acknowledges the need for federal standards, it argues that current proposals fail to address the specific dangers posed by sports-linked betting. Central to the NFL’s concerns is the risk that contracts tied to individual player performance or officiating could be influenced by non-public information or even manipulated by participants.

Beyond market integrity, the league is advocating for a more restrictive definition of permissible contracts to prevent platforms from masquerading as derivatives exchanges while essentially offering gambling products. The NFL specifically criticized the proposed 10-day review window for new contracts, labeling it insufficient for regulators to vet complex products. Furthermore, the league called for a mandatory ban on margin trading, strict advertising limits, and a minimum age requirement of 21 for participants.

This aggressive stance sets the NFL apart from organizations like the NHL and Major League Baseball, which have pursued partnerships with prediction platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket. The CFTC currently faces a complex balancing act: while it defends its authority to regulate these markets under federal law against state-level challenges, it must now reconcile that mission with the demands of major sports leagues. As trading volume on prediction platforms surged to an estimated $25 billion in 2025, the pressure to formalize safeguards has intensified.