CFTC signs NHL prediction markets agreement

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Hockey League to oversee sports-related prediction markets and combat insider trading and fraud.

CFTC Chair Michael Selig said the agreement was intended to protect users of prediction market platforms including Kalshi and Polymarket as the regulator continues asserting exclusive authority over the sector.

The agreement allows the CFTC and NHL to share information and coordinate efforts to maintain the integrity of professional hockey and event contracts tied to NHL games and outcomes.

The regulator signed a similar arrangement with Major League Baseball in March, when MLB simultaneously named Polymarket as its official prediction market exchange partner.

Prediction market platforms currently list contracts tied to the Stanley Cup playoffs, which began in April, while the NHL’s next regular season is expected to start in September.

Under Selig’s leadership, the CFTC has increasingly challenged state-level attempts to restrict prediction markets, filing lawsuits against authorities in Ohio, Connecticut, Illinois, New York and Minnesota over platform oversight and bans.

Meanwhile, Polymarket filed a product self-certification letter with the CFTC seeking approval to offer combinatorial outcome contracts that would allow users to combine multiple event outcomes into single market positions.