- Sports leagues and players associations aren’t on the same page regarding prediction markets.
- The MLB, NHL, and NBA are focused on predictions partnerships and making money, while players associations are calling for stronger player protections.
- The NCAA took the most aggressive stance towards prediction market companies, calling for the suspension of all college-related contracts to protect student athletes.
NEW YORK – While sports leagues want to regulated prediction markets and monetize them, their own players are seeking protection from them. A comment period for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) exposed the internal contradiction between leagues like the NFL, NBA, and MLB and their players associations.
The Players Associations, unions that collectively represent the players associations of the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS, reached out to Chairman Selig with comments for prediction market apps rules and how they should be regulated. The NHL and NFL declined to comment, but the NBA, MLB, and NCAA were vocal in their regulatory framework proposals. The core tension and aspirations of each entity can be briefly summarized in one table.
| Entity | CFTC Comment Filed? | Main Asking Points | Prediction Operator Partnership? |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | Yes | Information sharing, league data sharing with integrity monitoring organizations, league consultation, market controls | Polymarket |
| NBA | Yes | Ban markets for player props, officiating decisions, injuries, team transactions, disciplinary actions, and raise minimum trading age to 21+ | No, but in discussions |
| NCAA | Yes | Complete ban on all college markets with focus on athlete protection, advertising limits, data access | No |
| NFL | No | Ban on contracts for injuries and officiating, requested through direct letters in March | No |
| NHL | No | Nothing | Kalshi, Polymarket |
| Players Associations | Yes | Ban on “negative outcomes” like under bets and injury markets, more safeguards for player protection and privacy | No |
Leagues Want Monetization, Players Want Protection
A resounding example of this money vs body divide can be seen with the NHL, who have two multi-year partnerships with prediction market companies but their players association is part of the union comments asking for player protection protocols. The NHL didn’t even participate in any regulation proposals, instead keeping silent while their players union askes for protection from an entity the league is profiting off of.
However, the players associations are contradicting themselves. On the same day that the MLB Players Association called on the CFTC for more player protection and prohibit under bets since it opens them up to abuse and harassment, the MLBPA partners with Hard Rock Bet to put players faces in the betting platform’s player prop betting interfaces.
Even within the players associations, there is a divide. The MLBPA is split between a union, who filed the CFTC comments, and the MLB Players Inc., who handle commercial licensing like the Hard Rock Bet partnership.
Everyone involved in professional sports leagues wants to get paid from legal sports betting or predictions on athletes, but they’re asking regulators to protect those athletes from betting at the same time. Meanwhile, the players may never see a dime from the revenue collected on these prediction products.
