Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley divested his stake in Polymarket after the league clarified that its NFL betting restrictions also apply to prediction market investments and endorsements.
“I am not in that right now,” Barkley told Front Office Sports in an interview Tuesday. “I am not allowed to be in that.”
Barkley’s investment in Polymarket was disclosed in a profile of his investment portfolio last year. He did not specify when he exited the investment, but said the league had informed players of the NFL betting restrictions before this season.
“I was in it before, but no bueno,” Barkley said.
The NFL confirmed to FOS that players cannot invest in or promote sportsbooks or prediction markets but declined to address Barkley’s situation specifically. Polymarket also declined to comment.
NFL takes harder line on prediction markets
Barkley’s divestment underscores the NFL’s opposition to prediction markets, even as other professional sports leagues embrace the industry.
The league informed players, coaches and staff in August 2025 that trading NFL event contracts would be treated the same as wagering with sportsbooks under its gambling policy.
Earlier this month, the NFL urged the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve the legal dispute over prediction markets, arguing that states should retain authority to regulate sports-related contracts. The league said federal oversight has fallen short of protecting game integrity and criticized the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and operators including Kalshi for resisting its proposed safeguards.
Those include prohibitions on contracts involving player injuries, officiating decisions and outcomes known in advance, such as the first play of a game. The NFL also called for a minimum trading age of 21, matching most state-regulated sportsbooks.
NBA players embrace prediction markets
The NBA announced agreements with both companies Monday, joining MLB and the NHL in establishing prediction market partnerships. That leaves the NFL as the only major U.S. professional sports league without a deal with Kalshi or Polymarket.
Under the NBA’s 2023 collective bargaining agreement, players gained the ability to hold passive stakes of less than 1% in companies offering NBA betting and sign endorsement deals, provided they do not promote betting on NBA games.
Miami Heat star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid have acquired stakes in Kalshi, while LeBron James‘ Polymarket endorsement is reportedly worth $15 million annually. Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. also signed an endorsement deal with Kalshi earlier this month.
Legal fight continues nationwide
The differing league policies come amid a nationwide legal battle over whether sports prediction markets constitute gambling subject to state oversight or federally regulated financial derivatives.
Kalshi and other exchanges maintain that their event contracts fall under the CFTC’s exclusive jurisdiction, while state regulators and tribal gaming interests argue that the platforms offer sports betting without complying with applicable gambling laws.
Federal appeals courts remain divided. The Third Circuit sided with Kalshi in New Jersey, while the Sixth and Ninth Circuits have ruled in favor of state regulatory authority in cases involving Ohio, Tennessee and Nevada.
New Jersey has asked the Supreme Court to resolve the dispute, with the NFL among the organizations supporting its petition.
