The National Football League has formally requested the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission to substantially strengthen its proposed framework for sports-related event contracts, warning that the current draft lacks the safeguards needed to protect game integrity and market participants. In a letter dated July 27, 2026, addressed to CFTC Chair Michael Selig, NFL Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy Brendon Plack outlined the league's concerns as the public comment period ended.
The NFL emphasized that preserving the fairness and credibility of its contests remains the highest priority. While acknowledging some prior suggestions were incorporated, the league argued critical gaps persist. Central to its critique is the need for clearer limits on contracts highly susceptible to manipulation—specifically those a single individual could influence, those reliant on discretionary officiating decisions, contracts involving injuries, or outcomes known before public disclosure. The NFL also challenged the treatment of certain awards like Offensive Player of the Year as outside the definition of gaming simply because a voting panel is involved, asserting they remain tied to on-field performance.
Another major point of contention is the proposed ten-day review window for newly self-certified event contracts. The league argues this period is too short to detect integrity risks that may only emerge after listing and could effectively shield already-traded contracts from later regulatory scrutiny. It insists that all current contracts must eventually comply with final rules.
On insider activity, the NFL pressed for explicit language classifying the use of material non-public information obtained through duties owed to teams, leagues, or governing bodies as a manipulative or deceptive practice under the Commodity Exchange Act. It further recommended mandatory, league-specific lists of prohibited participants that prediction markets would be required to honor.
Consumer protection measures were also highlighted, with the league renewing calls for a minimum participation age of 21, centralized self-exclusion systems, deposit and loss limits, activity notifications, cooldown periods, a ban on margin trading, and advertising restrictions. The NFL's stance contrasts with more collaborative approaches taken by some other major leagues, while the CFTC continues expanding its federal framework without imposing broad restrictions on prediction markets. The agency is reviewing proposed amendments that would evaluate contracts individually as sector activity grows.
