The NBA asked the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to tighten restrictions on prediction markets, with a focus on players, game officials and team staff. Dan Spillane, the league’s executive vice president and assistant general counsel, told the regulator that prediction markets raise integrity concerns similar to sports betting.
The request landed as the CFTC weighs whether to amend its rules for prediction markets. The agency opened a public comment period on March 13 and closed it Thursday after receiving nearly 1,500 comments.
What the NBA wants
- The league called for “robust and comprehensive regulations” covering risks tied to athletes and others trading contracts on the sports in which they participate.
- Spillane pointed to markets tied to officiating, injuries and fan actions as areas that may be prone to manipulation.
- The NBA asked for a strict ban on contract trading by anyone younger than 21.
- The letter also called for more cooperation between prediction markets and leagues on suspicious trading, data sharing and league investigations.
Prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket let users who are 18 and older trade yes-or-no contracts on event outcomes, including sports. The NBA said it takes no position on the separate fight between states and the CFTC over who gets to regulate the industry.
The league is not following every sports property into the same lane. MLB, the NHL and UFC have signed partnership deals with prediction markets, while the NBA is asking the federal regulator to add guardrails before sports contracts become a bigger part of the fan experience.
The CFTC now has the comments. Its rule-making decision will determine whether NBA players, officials and team staff face tighter federal limits around sports prediction contracts.
