NCAA urges CFTC to halt college sports prediction markets

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has called on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to pause college sports prediction markets until stronger safeguards are introduced.

NCAA president Charlie Baker asked CFTC chair Michael Selig to suspend the markets until protections for student athletes are in place.

“The growth and haphazard nature of these markets has contributed to increased harassment of student athletes,”

Charlie Baker said.

Baker warned that prediction markets allow participation from users aged 18, unlike most US sports betting laws that restrict access to those aged 21.

He said the lower age threshold could encourage college and high school students to engage in potentially harmful betting activity.

The NCAA called for tighter age and advertising restrictions, enhanced integrity monitoring, anti-harassment measures and harm-reduction resources.

Prediction platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket have seen rapid growth, with sports-related contracts driving a large share of activity.

Several US states, including Connecticut, New York, Nevada and New Jersey, have moved to restrict or block sports-related prediction markets.

Despite regulatory pressure, prediction market trading volumes hit a record $701.7 million earlier this week.

Kalshi accounted for roughly two-thirds of total trading volume during the latest record-breaking sessions.