NFL bans players, staff from engaging with prediction markets

The National Football League said on Monday its gambling policy prohibits players and staff from using prediction market sites, arguing the platforms “mimic sports betting” and pose risks of manipulation.

Sabrina Perel, NFL Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, told reporters that players are barred from making football-related propositions on such sites, while all league personnel are banned from betting altogether.

“Our view is that these platforms mimic sports betting, and that they are covered as prohibited conduct under our policy,” Perel said. “That would be for all of our personnel, and now we're educating on this point as well, specifically stating that engaging in these platforms would be prohibited under the policy.”

Prediction markets such as Kalshi allow customers to trade on sports outcomes in contracts that resemble stock transactions, and are regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rather than state gambling authorities.

David Highhill, NFL Vice President of Sports Betting, said the league is concerned about gaps in regulation compared with traditional sportsbooks. “We're concerned that if these markets aren't properly regulated, they could be susceptible to manipulation or price distortion,” he said.

Highhill added the NFL opposes certain types of bets, such as whether a kicker will miss a field goal or the result of a quarterback’s first pass, describing them as more vulnerable to manipulation and of minimal fan engagement. “It's up to us to continue to monitor those and make sure that we're not facing undue risk,” he said.

In a statement to ESPN, Kalshi defended its safeguards, citing federal oversight and additional compliance measures. “Kalshi goes even further to operate with the highest level of integrity, launching responsible trading features such as deposit limits and self-exclusion, and partnering for additional oversight with compliance firm IC360,” a company spokesperson said. “We are committed to working with the NFL and all leagues to address their concerns, share data, and be as transparent as we are legally allowed to be.”

https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/08/26/115042-nfl-bans-players-staff-from-engaging-with-prediction-markets