The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has formally requested the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to immediately suspend all college sports prediction markets, citing significant risks to student-athlete safety and the integrity of collegiate competition. The request targets an estimated $320 million in active college sports markets, highlighting the rapid expansion of prediction platforms into territory traditionally dominated by regulated sportsbooks.
In a letter dated January 14, 2026, NCAA President Charlie Baker urged CFTC Chairman Michael Selig to halt trading on these markets until stronger safeguards are implemented. Baker argued that while these platforms are often framed as financial products, they now function in practice like sports wagering, offering moneyline, spread, and total markets on college games that closely mirror traditional betting but operate under a lighter regulatory framework.
The timing of the request coincides with explosive growth in the prediction market sector. Total daily trading volume across major platforms reached a record $701.7 million on January 12, 2026, with sports accounting for a growing share. Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket processed tens of billions of dollars in trades during 2025, with sports markets representing roughly three-quarters of Kalshi’s weekly volume and nearly 40% of Polymarket’s.
The NCAA’s primary concerns center on student safety. Baker warned that college prediction markets often allow participants as young as 18, compared to the 21-and-over requirement for sports betting in most states. NCAA surveys indicate that 58% of individuals aged 18 to 22 have participated in sports betting, with many reporting academic, financial, and mental health consequences.
Additional issues raised include gaps in advertising rules, as prediction markets face fewer restrictions on marketing to college campuses compared to sportsbooks. The NCAA fears students may mistakenly view prediction trading as a form of investing rather than gambling. Integrity monitoring is another critical gap; the NCAA monitors over 23,000 contests annually but notes many prediction platforms lack equivalent oversight and are not required to share integrity alerts.
Baker also highlighted concerns about athlete harassment, noting that student-athletes frequently report abuse from bettors tied to game outcomes. The letter calls for prediction markets to enforce anti-harassment measures, including banning participants who target athletes. Furthermore, the NCAA pointed out that prediction markets do not consistently provide harm reduction resources, unlike many state-regulated sportsbooks which direct revenue toward gambling education and treatment programs on campuses.
This request places the CFTC in a challenging regulatory position, as prediction markets fall under federal commodities law rather than state gambling statutes. The agency has previously approved certain sports-related contracts. However, the rapid growth of college-focused markets and the entry of major sports betting operators have intensified regulatory scrutiny. Lawmakers and regulators in several states, including Connecticut, New York, Nevada, and New Jersey, have already sought to ban or block sports-related prediction markets.
