Published on: August 26, 2025, at 11:59h.
Updated on: August 26, 2025, at 11:59h.
- NFL confirms prediction markets now fall under its betting policy
- League states these platforms “simulate sports betting”
- NCAA expresses strong concerns regarding the rise of prediction markets
As the 2025 football season gets underway this weekend, the NCAA and NFL are raising alarms about the emergence of prediction markets.
The NFL proclaimed on Monday that all personnel, including players, are prohibited from utilizing platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket for trading sports derivatives contracts. Last year, the league submitted feedback to the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) — the federal body overseeing event contract platforms — voicing concerns about the lack of regulation comparable to traditional sportsbooks.
“These platforms simulate sports betting and are classified as prohibited under our guidelines,” said Sabrina Perel, NFL Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, during a press conference.
The NFL, which reported no incidents related to betting last season, is the most wagered-on league in the United States. While there were no new policies regarding sports wagering introduced for the 2025 season, Perel noted that the league is engaging former players to conduct live, mandatory sports wagering sessions for current athletes.
Escalating Tension Between NFL and Prediction Markets
Though some analysts covering the betting and prediction market landscape anticipated nothing groundbreaking from the NFL’s press conference, the timing is significant, especially with the league’s first regular season game approaching on September 4.
The NFL’s clarification about barring players and staff from engaging with sports derivatives follows closely on the heels of Kalshi’s filing with the CFTC to introduce football event contracts that function much like bets on spreads, totals, and player propositions. This marks a shift for Kalshi, which had previously only offered yes/no contracts akin to money line bets.
David Highhill, NFL Vice President of Sports Betting, expressed that the league is worried about wagering on outcomes where players possess complete control, including bets on injuries and referee decisions.
“Our concern is that without adequate regulation, these markets could be vulnerable to manipulation or price irregularities,” he commented during the press briefing.
This media event followed shortly after Robinhood Markets announced it would offer event contracts for all regular season NFL games and matches featuring Power 4 and independent college football teams this year. Robinhood, which has teamed up with Kalshi, is intensifying its rivalry with conventional sportsbook operators, possibly providing the NFL and NCAA with yet another dynamic to oversee.
NCAA Also Opposes Prediction Markets
Robinhood’s announcement prompted a response from the NCAA, which conveyed its “deep concerns” regarding the insufficient regulatory oversight of prediction markets compared to the stringent protocols traditional sportsbook operators adhere to.
“We will continue to monitor developments in this market and collaborate with industry leaders to ensure the establishment of protections and regulations that safeguard NCAA competition, student-athletes, coaches, and officials,” stated Tim Buckley, a senior vice president for the NCAA, in a statement on August 22.
Buckley further emphasized that platforms escaping state regulatory oversight — which is essential for gaming companies — “pose threats to competition integrity and the safety of student-athletes.”