Saquon Barkley Divests Polymarket Stake Due to NFL Gambling Rules

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley previously held a stake in the prediction market platform Polymarket, but now, due to league rules, he has divested. 

“I am not in that right now,” Barkley told Front Office Sports last Tuesday. “I am not allowed to be in that.”

His investment in Polymarket was known last year, and while he didn't say when he divested, he said the NFL had these restrictions in place before the start of the 2026-27 season. 

“I was in it before, but no bueno,” Barkley said.

Additionally, Front Office Sports was told by the NFL that players are not allowed ot invest in or promote a sportsbook or prediction market platform. 

NFL Maintains Strict Rules on Prediction Market Investments

This news comes as the NFL is seemingly the only professional league that's staying away from prediction market platforms, at least for now. They've sided with New Jersey in the state's petition to the Supreme Court regarding prediction market platforms, but they have also signed partnerships with sportsbooks, too. Prediction markets maintain that sports event contracts are under the federal jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. 

As of August 2025, prediction markets and event contracts were treated the same as wagering and sports betting under the NFL's gambling policy. 

Some prediction market platforms, though, have complied with an NFL notice to remove markets that could be related to having advanced information, such as injuries. The NFL is also looking for prediction market platforms to be for traders 21 and older, similar to sportsbooks. 

NBA and Other Leagues Embrace Prediction Market Partnerships

As mentioned, other professional leagues are embracing prediction markets, such as the NBA, NHL, MLB, and MLS. The NBA recently announced partnerships with Polymarket, Kalshi, and DraftKings Predictions. Additionally, NBA players can hold a stake of less than 1% in companies that offer NBA betting or contracts, as long as, of course, they don't wager. 

Plenty of players hold these positions, including Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James. James has a Polymarket endorsement deal worth $15 million annually. 

From here, the legal battles involving prediction markets will continue until there's a decision, perhaps from the Supreme Court, after New Jersey filed a petition following the Third Circuit's ruling in favor of Kalshi. That said, the Ninth and Sixth Circuits have sided with the states over prediction markets.