NCAA Asks CFTC to Suspend College Sports Prediction Markets Until Safeguards Exist
The NCAA asked the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to halt prediction markets for college sports Wednesday.
Quick overview
- The NCAA has requested the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to suspend prediction markets for college sports until proper safeguards are established.
- NCAA President Charlie Baker expressed concerns that these markets could lead to unregulated betting and potential coercion of college athletes.
- The request follows Kalshi's filing to accept bets on college athletes entering the transfer portal, which has drawn criticism from the NCAA.
- Baker emphasized the need for protections such as age restrictions and integrity monitoring to safeguard student-athletes and maintain competitive integrity.
The NCAA asked the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to halt prediction markets for college sports Wednesday. NCAA President Charlie Baker sent a three-page letter to CFTC Chair Michael Selig calling for a suspension until proper safeguards get put in place.
Baker made the same point during his speech at the 2026 NCAA Convention. “So-called prediction markets are offering what anyone can see is unregulated betting on college games,” he said. “We need federal regulators to stabilize this market.”
The request came a month after Kalshi filed paperwork to accept bets on whether college athletes would enter the transfer portal. Though Kalshi said it has no immediate plans to offer those contracts, the filing triggered sharp criticism from the NCAA.
Prediction markets let users trade on yes-or-no outcomes of events, including sports. They’ve exploded in popularity over the past year. Unlike traditional sportsbooks regulated by state gambling authorities, prediction markets are classified as financial trading platforms and operate in all 50 states for users 18 and older.
Baker warned that prediction markets could incentivize coercion and harassment, especially when contracts involve individual athletes. “I implore you to suspend collegiate sport prediction markets until a more robust system with appropriate safeguards is in place,” Baker wrote. “The NCAA is willing to work with the CFTC to develop such a system that protects student-athletes and consumers from harm.”
The NCAA wants several protections: age restrictions, advertising limits, integrity monitoring, prop market bans, harm reduction resources, and anti-harassment measures. Baker noted that prediction market operators aren’t required to report integrity issues to other operators, unlike sportsbooks in many states.
The NCAA believes college athletes’ futures shouldn’t be subjects of gambling. Baker said transfer portal markets would threaten competitive integrity and recruiting processes.
Reaction from major sports leagues has been mixed. The NFL raised concerns about prediction markets expanding. The NHL and UFC partnered with Kalshi and other prediction market firms.
Prediction markets charge transaction fees like brokers. There’s no house taking bets. That structural difference helped them get classified as financial products rather than gambling, letting them avoid state gaming regulations that govern traditional sportsbooks.
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