Collegiate and professional athletic organizations in the United States have strict rules about their athletes’ involvement in gambling, particularly on sports. These policies are in place to protect league and sport integrity, with an added side effect of mitigating risk to the wellbeing of their respective athletes who are more vulnerable to developing problematic behavior with betting. Policies have become more clear since the federal ban was removed on sports betting in 2018, and there have been notable increases in early intervention athlete/player eduction regarding harms and consequences.
However, a new gambling-adjacent product has entered the marketplace, and it is obscuring the line between what is or isn’t considered sports betting. By now, readers are probably familiar with online prediction markets, which are federally regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Prediction markets are exchange-traded platforms that facilitate options to buy and sell contracts on the outcomes of various events. Legal-age Americans can make trades on everything from political elections and cryptocurrency valuations to the number of hurricanes making landfall along the near 30,000 miles of U.S. Atlantic coastline for the upcoming season. And yes, participants can also make online trades on the outcomes of sporting events. It’s not just win/loss outcomes, as the sports category for prediction markets offers online trading options labelled as Props, Win Totals, and Futures. The words Moneyline and Spread also accompany prompts to trade on a given sporting event outcome. This language is universally used across sportsbook apps and websites, the very same ones that college and professional athletes are not allowed to engage with to varying degrees. But because prediction market sports trading is regulated by the CFTC it is not currently considered to be a gambling product.
Does not being designated as a gambling product suggest that college and professional athletes are exempt from non-involvement? If not considered gambling, would organizational and league policies against gambling not apply? After all, athletes are allowed to participate in the stock market like any other retail investor, buying shares in companies, index funds, ETFs, and other financial instruments. While a bipartisan coalition of U.S. states currently seeks to redefine sports-related prediction markets as gambling via the H.R.8148 Prediction Market RISK Act (monitor movement here), as it stands now, college and professional athletes (and those aspiring to such roles), may lack clarity on the matter. To ensure clarity, Kindbridge has put together a summary of policies regarding athlete involvement in prediction market sports-related products. Further, we conclude with a succinct look at why athletes must be mindful of any participation on prediction markets, and where to get help should they develop an unhealthy relationship with the activity.
*May 2026 Update: Prediction market sports trading is an evolving regulatory and public health issue in the United States. Bookmark this resource and check back often as updates may be made to account for league and organization policy changes.
Overview of League and Organization Policies Regarding Athlete Involvement in Prediction Market Sports Trading in the USA
I. LEAGUE AND ORGANIZATION POLICIES
NCAA Policy on Athletes and Prediction Markets
The National Collegiate Athletic Organization (NCAA) maintains a strict ban on Division I, II, and III athletes from trading on sports on prediction markets. The NCAA views the “product” as a major threat to the integrity of competition and student-athlete well-being, further exposing student-athletes to increased harassment and coercion. They have formally requested (view details) that the CFTC suspend all such betting until strict safeguards are implemented.
NFL Policy on Athletes and Prediction Markets
The National Football League (NFL) has implemented a policy that NFL players and personnel are explicitly prohibited from engaging with or promoting prediction markets, as the league considers these platforms to be covered by its strict sports betting policies. Furthermore, the NFL is actively lobbying federal regulators to ban specific sports-related contracts on prediction market platforms. That being said, policy suggests that players are allowed to trade on non-NFL events with legal platforms, but all other league personnel, including coaches, officials and trainers are prohibited from all sports trading.
NBA Policy on Athletes and Prediction Markets
The National Basketball Association (NBA) explicitly prohibits all players, coaches, referees, and team personnel from betting on any NBA or G League event, which includes related trading on sports prediction markets. Because, as the league sees it, these platforms act essentially as sports betting, the league treats them under the same strict anti-gambling integrity policies. NBA policy suggests that players are allowed to trade on non-NBA events with legal platforms.
WNBA Policy on Athletes and Prediction Markets
The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) explicitly prohibits all players, coaches, referees, and team personnel from betting on any WNBA event, which includes trading on sports prediction markets. WNBA policy suggests that players are allowed to trade on non-WNBA events with legal platforms.
MLB Policy on Athletes and Prediction Markets
Major League Baseball (MLB) explicitly prohibits its athletes, personnel, and team employees from participating in prediction markets to wager on any baseball games or events. However, players can make trades on non-MLB games and sporting events.
NHL Policy on Athletes and Prediction Markets
National Hockey League (NHL) policy explicitly states that NHL athletes, coaches, and team or league employees are strictly prohibited from gambling on any NHL game, including individual player propositions, under the league’s collective bargaining agreement and constitution. However, players are permitted to make trades on non-hockey sports and events.
MLS Policy on Athletes and Prediction Markets
Major League Soccer (MLS) strictly prohibits all players, coaches, referees, and team or league staff from participating in or trading on soccer games and other sporting related outcomes on prediction market platforms. Trading on any soccer match worldwide is also prohibited by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association / International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) overarching code of ethics.
IOC Policy on Athletes and Prediction Markets
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) strictly prohibits all accredited athletes, coaches, and officials from participating in any betting or trading on prediction markets related to Olympic events.
II. DEFINING SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ATHLETES
Research confirms that elite athletes exhibit significantly higher rates of problematic gambling behavior when compared against the general population. It’s important for athletes, coaches, and league/organization personnel and other invested parties (family, et cetera) to recognize this because it directly relates to their potential involvement with prediction markets.
Numerous studies (view here and here) confirm that unhealthy trading behavior closely resembles problem gambling behavior. They each share core psychological and behavioral traits along with signs and symptoms. Experts note that excessive trading functions as a behavioral addiction in a manner that aligns with addictive behavior related to casino gaming and sports betting. Thereby, support services for athletes who are unable to use prediction markets responsibly also resemble those for problem gambling. It’s important for athletes (and stakeholders) to understand this, so that they know where to get help if/when needed.
Where should athletes get support for unhealthy trading behavior on prediction markets, whether engaged in sports trading or other categories? Right here at Kindbridge Behavioral Health. In addition to being a leading virtual counseling provider for elite athletes (tap for access) we are also leading the charge in online treatment for prediction market addiction across the United States of America. Click or call below for a FREE mental health assessment and to schedule a counseling session. Insurance and direct billing accepted.
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