The NFL is pushing federal regulators for tougher controls on sports prediction contracts amid surging market activity. In a letter to CFTC Chair Michael Selig dated July 27, the league highlighted the risks these contracts pose to game integrity and consumer protection, calling the agency’s current proposals insufficient.
Sports prediction markets, which allow users to trade on outcomes of events like football games, have exploded in popularity. Trading volume topped $25 billion in 2025, with daily new contract listings skyrocketing from about 1,600 to 162,000 between April 2025 and April 2026. While leagues like the NHL and MLB have partnered with platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket, the NFL is taking a more aggressive stance, seeking tighter oversight to prevent manipulation and insider trading.
Stricter safeguards urged to protect games and players
The NFL’s letter pushes the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to narrow which contracts are allowed, ban margin trading, restrict advertising, and raise the minimum participation age to 21. It also criticizes the proposed 10-day review period for self-certified contracts as too short to catch problematic listings. The league emphasized that preserving the integrity of NFL games is paramount, linking it to the stability of related event contracts and the safety of market participants.
These demands come as the CFTC closes its public comment period on amendments to Rule 40.11, which governs event contracts connected to gaming and other sensitive activities. The NFL’s firm stance contrasts with more collaborative approaches seen in other sports, signaling a potential crackdown on a rapidly growing market segment.
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