NFL Sets Sportsbook Ad Restrictions, Bans Prediction Market Advertising

For sportsbooks partnered with the NFL, they'll have to have their advertisements that happen during games approved by the league. 

This follows NFL director of communications Tim Schlittner telling Legal Sports Report that the NFL's three sportsbook partners—FanDuel, DraftKings, and Fanatics—can't run brand-awareness ads and can only promote a single approved product. 

“They are well aware,” Schlittner said about these guidelines being sent to their partners. “We are in constant dialogue with our partners. In-game advertisements must be cleared.”

Additionally, Gambling Insider reported that prediction market advertising during NFL games isn't allowed. 

"All prediction market advertising during NFL games is prohibited,” Schlittner said in an email to Gambling Insider.

“This prohibition extends to in-stadium signage, club sponsorships, and player endorsements.”

Prediction Market Platforms Excluded From NFL Partnerships

Following the partnerships, Renie Anderson, executive vice president and chief revenue officer at the NFL, spoke highly of these platforms. 

“We are thrilled to have three world-class partners in the sports betting category,” Anderson started. “DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics share our vision for innovation and fan engagement, but most importantly, our commitment to protecting the integrity of the game. We look forward to navigating this next chapter in sports betting together.”

Interestingly, all three sports betting partners also offer prediction market platforms with Fanatics Markets, DraftKings Predictions, and FanDuel Predicts. So, with this partnership, they're promoting a single sports betting product, but the partnership doesn't allow any airtime, signage, or promotional materials for the prediction market platforms. 

NFL Taking a Patient Approach to Prediction Market Partnerships

To date, the NFL hasn't linked up with any prediction market platforms, but another professional league, Major League Baseball, has. They partnered with Polymarket in March. 

For the NFL to consider any prediction market platform, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said there need to be "strong regulations" on these platforms. The NFL also sent them letters about "objectionable" markets, including those involving Week 1 playing status before the season. 

Goodell has referred to prediction market platforms as "potential partners," but that's the extent of it.