NCAA urges CFTC to pause college sports prediction markets

2026-01-15 08:21:49

Source: CryptoNewsNet Original Title: NCAA urges CFTC to pause college sports prediction markets Original Link: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has asked the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to suspend college sports-related prediction markets, arguing they replicate sports betting without the protections required of licensed sportsbooks.

In a letter sent to the CFTC, the NCAA said it is “requesting that the Commission suspend collegiate sport prediction markets” until “a more robust system with appropriate safeguards is in place,” citing risks to student athletes, consumers, and competition integrity.

College sports related contracts have approximately $320 million in volume on decentralized betting platform Polymarket, according to data aggregator Polymarket Analytics.

The NCAA argued that prediction markets offering contracts on game outcomes, spreads, and totals are functionally indistinguishable from sports wagering, even though they operate under federal commodities law rather than state gaming regimes. That distinction, the group said, has allowed operators to bypass age limits, advertising restrictions and integrity monitoring standards commonly imposed on sportsbooks.

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