NBA Urges Federal Regulator To Tighten Prediction Market Rules To Protect Game Integrity

Dan Spillane, the NBA's executive vice president and assistant general counsel, authored the letter. He argued that prediction markets pose integrity concerns comparable to traditional sports betting, particularly when players, game officials, or team staff can trade contracts tied to competitions in which they participate. There is no higher priority for the NBA than protecting the integrity of our games and preserving public confidence in our league and in our sport, Spillane wrote. The NBA's position stands apart from several peer leagues. MLB, the NHL, and the UFC have each signed partnership agreements with prediction market platforms rather than seeking tighter federal oversight. Spillane flagged specific market categories as vulnerable to manipulation, including those tied to officiating decisions, player injuries, and fan conduct. The letter also called for a minimum trading age of 21, stricter than the current 18-and-older threshold used by platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket. The league stopped short of taking sides in the ongoing jurisdictional dispute between individual states and the CFTC over regulatory authority. Additional requests included improved data sharing between prediction market operators and leagues, along with stronger cooperation on suspicious trading activity and internal league investigations.