NFL and NCAA Warn Prediction Markets Could Disrupt Sports Integrity
Right now, a new battle line is being drawn in the sports world, and it is not happening on the field. The NFL and the NCAA are pushing back hard against the rapid rise of prediction markets, calling the situation dangerous, poorly regulated, and even “catastrophic” if left unchecked. As prediction-market platforms gain popularity across the United States, major sports organizations are making it clear they are not ready to embrace this trend.
Prediction markets, offered by companies like Kalshi and Polymarket, allow users to trade contracts based on the outcomes of real-world events, including sports games. While they look and feel a lot like traditional sports betting, they operate under a different legal framework. Instead of being regulated at the state level like sportsbooks, these platforms claim oversight by the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission. That technical distinction has allowed them to operate nationwide, even in states where sports betting is still illegal.
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This is where alarm bells are being rung. NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller recently submitted testimony to a House committee, warning that these sports-related contracts lack the safeguards that regulated sports betting has spent years building. According to the league, things like integrity monitoring, information-sharing rules, restrictions on easily manipulated markets, and responsible gambling protections are either weak or missing altogether. It was argued that this creates real risks to the integrity of games, especially when large amounts of money are involved.
The NCAA shares those concerns. Its leadership has warned that prediction markets are moving faster than regulators can keep up. NCAA president Charlie Baker described the current environment as having “no rules, no oversight,” and said that without federal action, the situation is likely to get worse. He also pointed to the fact that major betting companies plan to launch their own prediction-market platforms, suggesting the space could soon become even more crowded and chaotic.
Prediction-market companies strongly disagree with that characterization. Representatives argue that these platforms are regulated, just differently, and that rules against manipulation already exist, similar to how stock markets are governed. From their perspective, prediction markets are being misunderstood and unfairly lumped in with gambling.
Still, the skepticism from sports leagues remains firm. Commissioners and executives have repeatedly stressed that until clear protections are in place, prediction markets pose too many unanswered questions. For now, the message from the NFL and NCAA is unmistakable: without stronger oversight, the rapid expansion of prediction markets is seen not as innovation, but as a serious threat to the future credibility of sports.
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