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Sports betting continues to expand across the U.S., and now federally regulated prediction markets and sports trading sites are stepping into the spotlight. The NFL, however, is making its position clear: players cannot use these platforms to bet on football.
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During a media briefing, Sabrina Perel, the league’s chief compliance officer, explained the updated policy:
“Our view is that these platforms mimic sports betting and that they are covered as prohibited conduct under our policy, and 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.”
NFL players may still participate in prediction markets for sports other than football — or in non-sports events — provided they aren’t doing so at a team facility or on official travel. Alex Riethmiller, the NFL’s vice president of communications, compared it to the league’s wider betting policy:
“NFL players could participate in prediction markets in sports other than the NFL and as long as they aren’t doing it at work or on a work trip. In that way, it mirrors the policy for regular sports betting.”
The NFL has monitored prediction markets since they first tested sports contracts late in 2024. Unlike traditional sportsbooks that operate under state regulators, platforms such as Kalshi and Robinhood fall under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). That means state commissions — like Ohio’s Casino Control Commission — don’t have oversight, and the NFL loses access to information-sharing agreements that help flag suspicious activity.
David Highhill, NFL vice president of sports betting, highlighted the gap:
“I think what’s important about the sports betting markets right now that are legal is that they have protections that include information sharing between sportsbooks and the leagues. There’s integrity monitoring requirements, there’s prohibitions on certain types of wagers or markets that are more subject to influence.”
He added that prediction markets, for now, lack those protections.
The rules for 2025 are straightforward: no NFL player can use prediction markets to bet on football, just as they cannot wager on the league through a sportsbook. Staff, coaches, and other personnel remain banned from all forms of sports wagering.
Still, prediction markets are gaining traction. FanDuel announced a deal with CME Group on August 20 to build “fully funded, event-based contracts” tied not just to sports, but also to benchmarks like the S&P 500, commodities, and crypto. These will offer low-entry “yes or no” contracts that resemble wagers, starting at just $1, and are expected to launch in late 2025.
Meanwhile, lawmakers are also taking notice. In Massachusetts, Representative David Muradian introduced House Bill 4431, which would ban online contests or promotions that use dual-currency systems to mimic gambling.
The NFL ended last season without gambling suspensions, but with both state-regulated sportsbooks and federally regulated prediction markets operating in 2025, the lines could blur quickly. The league says its priority is keeping the game free from manipulation and making sure all betting — however it’s structured — stays within frameworks that protect integrity.
For fans, the reality is different. Platforms like Kalshi and Robinhood already list contracts tied to NFL outcomes for regular users. While the courts continue to sort out the legal status of sports event contracts, players and staff know the rules are already set: no NFL betting, no exceptions.