The NFL Sends New Letter to Prediction Market Operators The National Football League has issued a new letter to prediction market operators, such as Kalshi and Polymarket, urging them to discontinue listing certain sports-event contracts related to NFL games. The letter, obtained by ABC News, was sent on Thursday, a week before the start of the 2026 regular season.
Sabrina Perel, Chief Compliance Officer at the NFL, authored the letter, which refers to concerns raised by the league in a previous communication earlier this year. Perel mentioned that categories of contracts identified as objectionable months ago are still being listed as contracts on exchanges.
The NFL identified several problematic contract types, including those related to fan safety, player injury status (like whether a player is active for a given week), and player misconduct.
The NFL also requested platforms to restrict contracts tied to broadcast mentions and celebrity attendance at games, stating that these outcomes can be influenced by a single individual.
Single-player outcomes highlighted as manipulation risk
Wagers on a kicker missing a field goal, a quarterback’s first pass attempt being incomplete, a receiver’s first target being incomplete, and a running back gaining fewer than a specified number of yards on the first carry were flagged by the league.
The league further urged operators to stop offering contracts linked to officiating decisions, including the number of penalty flags thrown in a game.
League issues warning about risks to athletes and officials
Perel’s letter emphasized that continuing to offer these contract types poses a risk not only to competitive integrity but also to individuals involved in games. She stated that such listings jeopardize the fundamental integrity of the games and pose significant risks to players, coaches, officials, and participants in the exchanges.
This marks the second official request from the NFL on this matter in 2026, following a letter sent in the spring outlining the same areas of concern.
The letter comes as prediction markets deepen connections with professional sports leagues. Kalshi recently became the official prediction market partner for nine Major League Baseball teams.
Separately, prediction markets are facing ongoing legal challenges, with several states seeking to restrict or regulate the platforms on the grounds that they constitute unlicensed gambling operations.