NFL has renewed its effort to restrict event contracts offered by prediction market platforms as the league prepares for the 2026 season.
NFL Chief Compliance Officer Sabrina Perel sent a letter to CFTC-registered designated contract markets, repeating concerns first raised in March. It says contracts could create risks for players, coaches and officials or undermine confidence in the markets.
“It is deeply concerning that bets within the objectionable categories that we identified months ago have been and continue to be listed as contracts on exchanges,” Perel wrote.
The NFL grouped the contracts it opposes into four categories: markets that one person could easily manipulate, inherently objectionable markets, officiating-related contracts and outcomes knowable in advance.
NFL Details The Contracts It Opposes
Examples include whether a kicker will miss a field goal, whether a quarterback’s first pass will be incomplete and whether a running back will fall below a specified rushing total. Broadcast mentions and fan or celebrity attendance also appear on the list.
The NFL also objects to contracts concerning player injuries, fan safety and player misconduct. Officiating markets covering penalties, replay results and assignments fall under another category.
Contracts involving the first play, roster decisions, trades, hiring or firing decisions, draft picks and coaching decisions are considered knowable in advance.
“The DCMs must defer to the expertise of the sports leagues to protect the integrity of our games,” Perel wrote. “CFTC Commissioner (Michael) Selig has asserted that the leagues are best suited to determine which contracts to prohibit, noting that ‘the leagues are very well positioned to make those calls and so we are going to afford a lot of deference to the leagues on these types of issues.’
“The failure of DCMs to meaningfully incorporate the perspective and integrity expertise of the NFL is undermining public confidence in the markets themselves.”
Prediction Markets Gain Ground With NFL Bettors
An August 2026 Optimove survey of 926 U.S. NFL bettors found that 84% had heard of prediction markets, while 60% planned to trade event contracts during the season.
These platforms allow users to buy and sell contracts tied to real-world outcomes. Prices generally range from one cent to 99 cents and reflect implied probability. Users trade against other participants through an order book.
MLB and the NHL have pursued relationships with prediction market companies, while Kalshi, Polymarket and Novig have secured partnerships with MLB franchises.
The NFL has taken a different position. In August, it announced sportsbook partnerships with DraftKings, Fanatics and FanDuel, while prediction market companies remained outside those agreements.
NFL Renews Call Before Season Opener
Ahead of the season opener, the NFL asked exchanges to remove the disputed contracts.
“Continuing to list these objectionable contracts threatens the underlying integrity of our games and creates significant risks for our players, coaches, and officials, as well as for those participating on your exchanges. It is imperative that DCMs take further action to remove any objectionable bets,” the letter concludes.
The NFL first raised the issue in March. Kalshi later removed certain injury-related markets following a CFTC request.
Source:
“NFL remains strongest skeptic of prediction markets among US leagues”, sbcamericas.com, September 4, 2026
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