CFTC, NHL Sign MOU on Hockey Prediction Markets as Sports Contracts Top 80% of 2025 Volume
Updated
Updated · WilmerHale · May 26
CFTC, NHL Sign MOU on Hockey Prediction Markets as Sports Contracts Top 80% of 2025 Volume
7 articles · Updated · WilmerHale · May 26
May 21 brought a new CFTC-NHL memorandum of understanding to share information confidentially and coordinate on integrity issues in hockey-related event contracts traded on CFTC-regulated exchanges.
The deal responds to a fast-growing market that operates under federal commodities law rather than state sports-betting rules, leaving leagues to build new safeguards while courts still fight over jurisdiction.
Nearly $64 billion of global prediction-market volume traded in 2025, up from under $16 billion in 2024, with sports contracts accounting for more than 80% and Super Bowl Sunday alone topping $1 billion.
The CFTC has already tightened its focus through March integrity guidance, an enforcement push that includes insider trading, and a rulemaking process that drew more than 3,500 public comments.
MLB has already signed a similar MOU with the CFTC, while the NFL and NCAA have instead pressed for limits on certain contracts, underscoring a fragmented league response as litigation could reach the Supreme Court.
As leagues sign huge deals, can AI and data sharing truly shield sports from the insider trading risks of prediction markets?
With courts and Congress in conflict, are prediction markets a financial innovation or just gambling that has found a legal loophole?
Will the explosion of 'micro-bets' on individual plays fundamentally alter how sports are played, officiated, and enjoyed by fans?
NHL-CFTC Integrity Pact: How the May 2026 Agreement Sets a New Standard for $10B+ Prediction Markets
Overview
On May 21, 2026, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the National Hockey League (NHL) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding to address the rapid growth of prediction market betting and its related risks. This agreement aims to protect the integrity of professional hockey outcomes and maintain fan trust as prediction markets expand. By proactively adapting to new regulatory challenges and responding to concerns about potential abuse and cheating, the NHL and CFTC are setting a new standard for oversight in sports and financial markets, ensuring fair play and transparency for all participants.