NCAA asks CFTC to tighten rules for college-sports prediction markets

In this letter, NCAA President Charlie Baker asks the agency to halt such offerings “until a more reliable system with appropriate safeguards is in place,” adding that the association is ready to work on clearer rules.

The letter, dated January 14, 2026, is addressed to CFTC Chair Michael Selig. Baker argues that these products function as a form of sports betting: prediction-market operators offer contracts that mirror standard sportsbook markets, including moneylines, totals, and point spreads. In the NCAA’s view, those platforms often operate without the same limits and oversight typically required of state-regulated sports betting.

One of the NCAA’s main concerns is age access. The association notes that in most states, legal sports betting is limited to people 21 and older, while prediction markets may allow trading from age 18. NCAA says that lower threshold could pull in college students and even high school students.

Baker also raises concerns about marketing and how the product is understood. He writes that some students may mistake trading these contracts for financial investing, even though sports outcomes are inherently unpredictable. He adds that sports betting is often subject to specific restrictions on on-campus advertising and argues comparable rules should apply to prediction markets.

The letter separately focuses on integrity monitoring. According to NCAA staff, effective integrity analytics rely on data and procedures that may be missing from some prediction-market products. As one example, the NCAA points to user geolocation: in investigations of suspicious activity, location data can help determine where bets were placed and whether they may be connected to participants in a competition.

The association is also seeking formal involvement by a “national governing body” in the review of certain products. The letter references efforts to list regulated contracts tied to activity in the college transfer portal. In addition, the NCAA’s requested safeguards include a ban or strict limits on prop-style markets in college sports (contracts tied to individual performance), measures to curb harassment of athletes by bettors, and harm-reduction programs.

The request comes amid rapid growth in prediction markets and an expanding menu of event-based contracts. At the same time, debate continues over where the line sits between federal derivatives oversight and state gambling laws.