NFL Sends September 3 Letter Demanding Prediction Markets Remove Objectionable Contracts

The NFL has renewed its objections to specific prediction market contracts, sending a letter on Sept. 3 to designated contract markets that certain offerings flagged earlier this year remain available. Chief Compliance Officer Sabrina Perel authored the correspondence, which stresses risks to game integrity for players, coaches and officials. Perel described the situation as deeply concerning.

The league refers to these products as bets, in contrast to the event contract terminology used by the platforms. It maintains that such markets could create improper influences on how games are played. As reported by Gambling Insider, the letter reiterates a request first made in March.

Categories of Objectionable Contracts

The NFL lists four categories it wants removed: contracts easily manipulated by a single person, such as whether a kicker misses a field goal or a quarterback’s first pass is incomplete; inherently objectionable subjects including player injuries and availability, fan safety and player misconduct; officiating-related matters such as penalties, replay results and assignments; and information knowable in advance, including starting lineups, player trades, coaching decisions and draft selections.

“It is deeply concerning that bets within the objectionable categories that we identified months ago have been and continue to be listed as contracts on exchanges,” Perel wrote. She added that continuing to list these contracts “threatens the underlying integrity of our games and creates significant risks for our players, coaches, and officials, as well as for those participating on your exchanges.” Perel stated it is “imperative that DCMs take further action to remove any objectionable bets.”

Fans, players, coaches, officials and other NFL personnel “deserve to know that we are doing everything possible to ensure no improper influences affect how our games are played and that we are taking all appropriate steps to protect fair competition,” the league said. @BenHorney posted on X: “The NFL sent a letter to all registered DCMs (i.e. prediction market platforms) reiterating the bets it objects to. As @FOS recently reported, there will be no NFL-prediction-market deals when this season kicks off.”

Outlook for NFL Relations With Prediction Markets

Kalshi has removed athlete injury and player availability markets after a Commodity Futures Trading Commission request and paused sports-related mention markets. It still lists contracts on starting quarterbacks, players’ next teams, coach firings and rookie debuts. The Sept. 3 letter follows the NFL’s May 15 and July 27 comments to the CFTC urging categorical prohibitions and a minimum age of 21 along with self-exclusion and limit tools.

The NFL has no prediction-market partnership, unlike its renewed agreements with DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics that restrict similar wagers. The NBA has also held back, though that position may shift. Operators face a clear choice: align with these integrity demands or navigate the league’s continued regulatory push at the CFTC level. Without movement, official ties are unlikely to form before the 2026 season or in the near term.

Reporting: Gambling Insider

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