The National Football League has brought its concerns about sports-related prediction markets to Congress, arguing that the fast-growing sector raises integrity and consumer protection risks. In written testimony to the House Committee on Agriculture, the league said these federally regulated markets operate outside state gambling oversight while offering sports-linked contracts nationwide.
Prediction markets allow users to trade yes-or-no contracts tied to real-world events, including professional sports outcomes and in-game developments. While state-regulated sportsbooks operate legally in 39 states and Washington, DC, prediction markets remain available in all 50 states, including jurisdictions where sports betting remains illegal.
Concerns over regulation and market reach
Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president, told lawmakers the league is “particularly troubled” by sports futures contracts offered without state supervision. He said these products bypass protections commonly enforced by state regulators in licensed betting markets.
“We are particularly troubled that several sports-related futures contracts have been launched nationwide, including in jurisdictions where sports betting has not been legalised,”Miller wrote. “These contracts fall outside the purview of state regulatory authorities and the safeguards they impose upon the industry.”
Miller warned that trading volumes on prediction markets could eventually exceed those seen at traditional sportsbooks, increasing the potential for threats to game integrity. He contrasted this with the state-based sportsbook model, where regulators monitor wagering patterns and consult with leagues on acceptable betting activity.
“In each of these state-regulated markets, regulators and state legislators closely monitor betting activity and, with input from professional sports leagues, can determine which bets and wager levels are acceptable,” Miller wrote. “Those guardrails do not exist in prediction markets.”
Objectionable contract types
The league also pointed to contracts tied to broadcast content as a serious concern. Miller cited markets allowing trading on whether terms such as “concussion protocol,” “late hit,” or “roughing the passer” appear during game broadcasts.
“Congress and the CFTC should prohibit these and other types of objectionable bets among the many consumer and integrity protective measures needed before sports-related events contracts are legalised,” Miller said.
Debate over prediction market oversight has intensified as state regulators challenge companies including Kalshi and Polymarket, arguing their offerings resemble illegal sports betting rather than financial products regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Industry pushback and league response
The Coalition for Prediction Markets, which represents major operators, rejected the NFL’s characterization. A spokesperson said federal rules already address market manipulation.
“This testimony is like saying the stock market has no rules,” the spokesperson said. “The CFTC’s regulations on abusive or manipulative trading apply to prediction markets just like the SEC’s regulations apply to the stock market.”
The discussion comes as established sportsbook operators DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics plan to launch their own prediction market products. Meanwhile, the NFL has strengthened its internal rules. In August, the league informed players and staff that trading sports event contracts on platforms such as Kalshi or Robinhood would be treated as prohibited gambling. Chief compliance officer Sabrina Perel said the league updated its gambling policy education to reflect that change.
Source:
“NFL on high alert: The league’s growing concern over prediction markets”, msn.com. Dec 13, 2025
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