AP

NFL argues to Supreme Court that prediction markets are gambling

The NFL has entered the legal debate over sports prediction markets by filing a *friend of the court* brief supporting New Jersey’s argument that these platforms should be classified as gambling. The league’s intervention comes in the ongoing dispute between Kalshi and the state, where the core issue is whether prediction markets fall under federal oversight by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or should instead be regulated by individual states under gambling laws.

If the CFTC’s jurisdiction prevails, prediction markets could operate nationwide without state restrictions, while a state-level ruling would force operators to comply with local gambling rules—potentially blocking sports-related markets in jurisdictions where betting remains illegal. The NFL’s stance highlights concerns about market manipulation and age restrictions, which it claims have not been adequately addressed by either the CFTC or prediction market companies.

The league’s position mirrors its past opposition to sports betting, though industry observers note its history of shifting to support legalized betting once it became inevitable—suggesting a potential pivot if the legal landscape changes in favor of prediction markets.

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