Major

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Jeff

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Polymarket

The National Football League (NFL) has reportedly sent letters to Kalshi, Polymarket and other prediction market platforms in an effort to block the companies from offering trades on football events that can be easily manipulated or determined in advance.&nbsp;
According to a Monday ESPN report, the letters to the prediction market companies <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48338843/nfl-asks-prediction-markets-stop-manipulable-trading" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">said</a> that the NFL objected to certain types of event contracts offered on the platforms, including those that could be easily manipulated by a single person — such as an announcer’s words, player signings, coach firings and bets related to injuries on the field. League executive vice president Jeff Miller reportedly said the letter followed talks with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).&nbsp;
“When a league raises manipulation concerns about a contract proposed to be listed on a prediction market, the agency considers the league’s concerns and may prohibit the contract from being listed,” <a href="https://x.com/ChairmanSelig/status/2038708539611599202" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">said</a> CFTC Chair Michael Selig in a Monday interview with ESPN posted to X, adding:
<blockquote>
 "[T]he 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."
</blockquote>
<figure><img src="https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-03/019d4064-ede7-7484-be9b-45a75f0cd885.png" alt="NFL asks prediction markets to act on ‘easily manipulated’ bets">
 <figcaption>Source: <a href="https://x.com/ChairmanSelig/status/2038708539611599202" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CFTC Chair Michael Selig</a>
 </figcaption>
</figure>
Under Selig, the CFTC has <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/cftc-michael-selig-defending-prediction-markets" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">moved toward claiming</a> “exclusive jurisdiction” over prediction markets even as many US state gaming authorities continue to file lawsuits against platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket. Earlier this month, Major League Baseball (MLB) <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/major-league-baseball-cftc-polymarket-deal" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">signed a memorandum</a> of understanding with the US regulator in response to requests for “integrity protections.”
Related: <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/detroit-michigan-lawsuit-coinbase-prediction-market" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Detroit set to enter Michigan‘s battle against Coinbase prediction markets</a>
Cointelegraph reached out to Kalshi and Polymarket for comment on the NFL letters but did not receive an immediate response.
<h2 id="us-lawmakers-mull-legislation-to-fight-insider-trading-on-prediction-markets">US lawmakers mull legislation to fight insider trading on prediction markets</h2>
The NFL’s letter comes as lawmakers in the US Congress <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/us-lawmakers-prediction-market-bets-war-bill" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">introduced bills in response</a> to “highly unusual bets” on prediction market platforms, signaling insider information about the country’s attacks on Iran. Another proposed bill would <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/lawmakers-introduce-bill-banning-congress-president-from-prediction-markets" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ban a US president and lawmakers</a> from making wagers on the platforms.<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UY2LtqofHqQ?start=" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-forms"></iframe>
Magazine: <a href="https://cointelegraph-magazine.com/are-defi-devs-liable-illegal-activities-platforms/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Are DeFi devs liable for the illegal activity of others on their platforms?</a>

NFL asks prediction markets to act on ‘easily manipulated’ bets

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