NFL Warns CFTC Proposed Prediction Rules Fail to Safeguard Sports Integrity
2026-07-27
Source: Global Gaming Insider
The NFL has told the CFTC its proposed prediction market rules are inadequate for protecting sports integrity, citing specific shortcomings and referencing a recent insider-trading suspension as evidence of the need for stronger regulations.
The National Football League has formally urged the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to overhaul its proposed regulations for prediction markets, arguing the current draft lacks sufficient protections for sporting events and consumers. In a letter submitted during the CFTC’s public comment period, the league acknowledged some positive elements in the rulemaking but insisted major gaps remain.
Brendon Plack, the NFL’s senior vice president of public policy and government affairs, stated that while the commission incorporated certain suggestions from the league’s earlier feedback, “the draft rules fall significantly short of protecting the integrity of sporting events and the fans who participate in these markets.” He added that it was surprising the CFTC did not adopt additional commonsense integrity and consumer safeguards previously recommended by the NFL.
The CFTC unveiled its proposed amendments to event contract derivatives rules on June 12, marking the agency’s first formal definition of gaming. The definition describes gaming as any activity governed by rules that involves luck, skill, or athletic ability and is typically pursued for recreation or entertainment. The commission opened a 45-day public commentary period, seeking input on issues such as insider trading, margin requirements, core principles, blockchain markets, and public-interest bans.
The NFL’s latest push for stricter rules comes shortly after the league suspended Arizona Cardinals director of college scouting Ryan Gold on July 17 for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. An investigation found that Gold had disclosed inside information about the 2026 NFL Draft, including the team’s planned selections before they were publicly announced, and had placed parlay bets on both NFL and college football games. League officials view such incidents as underscoring the need for robust regulatory guardrails around any market tied to sports outcomes.