Just a week before the NFL season kicks off, the league has again pressed prediction‑market operators to remove contracts it deems “objectionable.” In a letter obtained by ABC News, Sabrina Perel, the NFL’s chief compliance officer, told Polymarket and Kalshi to prohibit bets that could jeopardize the integrity of the games.
What the league calls “objectionable” contracts
The NFL identified several categories of contracts that it believes are risky. These include wagers tied to fan safety, player injuries such as who will be “in and out” during a given week, and player misconduct. The league also singled out contracts that involve broadcast mentions, celebrity attendance and other events that could be easily manipulated by a single individual.
Additionally, the NFL asked the platforms to stop offering predictions on officiating outcomes, such as the number of flags that will be thrown in a game. “Continuing to list these objectionable contracts threatens the underlying integrity of our games and creates significant risks for our players, coaches, officials, and participants on your exchanges,” the letter read.
Why the NFL is acting now
This is the second time the league has raised the issue this year. Earlier in the season, the NFL sent a similar letter outlining its concerns about prediction markets. The league’s push comes as more sports organizations embrace betting‑related apps; for example, Kalshi recently became the official prediction app for nine Major League Baseball teams.
At the same time, prediction markets face a growing legal battle across several states, where lawmakers are seeking to ban or heavily regulate them over allegations that they operate as unlicensed gambling platforms.
Industry response
ABC News has reached out to both Kalshi and Polymarket for comment. Neither company has publicly responded at the time of this writing.
The NFL’s request reflects a broader effort by professional sports leagues to protect the fairness of competition and the safety of participants amid the expanding world of digital wagering.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
