New York – August 25, 2025. The NFL has made it crystal clear: its long-standing gambling policy now unequivocally extends to prediction markets, treating them the same as traditional sports betting when it concerns league matters.
During a media briefing, Sabrina Perel, NFL Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, stated,
“These platforms mimic sports betting, and they are covered as prohibited conduct under our policy.”
This directive applies to all league personnel, including players, coaches, and support staff. “We’re educating on this point as well, specifically stating that engaging in these platforms would be prohibited.”
David Highhill, NFL Vice President of Sports Betting, underscored the issue:
“Prediction markets lack certain regulatory requirements that we know regulated sportsbooks must follow, like integrity monitoring, responsible betting tools, and data-sharing with leagues. We’re concerned they could be susceptible to manipulation or price distortion.”
Under this updated policy:
- NFL games are entirely off-limits, even via federally regulated platforms like Kalshi or Robinhood.
- Personnel may use prediction markets for sports other than the NFL, provided they do so outside team facilities or while traveling on team business.
The clarification arrives as these markets gain popularity and raise red flags throughout the sports betting ecosystem. While platforms like Kalshi argue they offer transparency and are regulated by the CFTC, the NFL believes the lack of formal oversight makes them a potential risk to the game’s integrity. With the 2025 season just around the corner, the NFL continues its in-person training programs—reinforced by veteran voices—to ensure athletes know the rules inside and out.
