NFL Tells Barkley to Get Out of Polymarket
Jesse M. Cox Published 02/11/2026
The NFL has forced Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley to divest himself of his equity stake in Polymarket. Barkley indicated that league officials told him that his ownership of a stake in the prediction market site was in violation of the NFL's anti-gambling policy. Players are not permitted to be an endorser or a brand ambassador for any gambling site.
Even though prediction market sites argue that what they're offering isn't gambling, the NFL views prediction market sports-event contracts as gambling. It is the only one of the four major North American sports - NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL - that is taking this stance.
Barkley acknowledges the NFL ruling
Barkley admitted that the NFL came to him with an order that he get out of his investment in the prominent prediction market site. He acknowledged that he was no longer an investor in Polymarket in an interview with Front Office Sports (FOS).
“I am not in that right now,” Barkley told FOS. “I am not allowed to be in that.”
Barkley indicates that the NFL was providing information about the policy when the league was informing players of all new rules regarding investments at the outset of the current season.
“What you can and can’t do,” Barkley said, referring to endorsements, investments, and training.
This year's preseason session informed players that there was a complete ban on doing business with all prediction market sites. That includes endorsement deals and investing in any of the companies that are active in the U.S. market.
“So I kinda had to get out of that,” Barkley said. “I was in it before, but no bueno."
An NFLPA spokesperson supplied an outline of the policy to FOS. According to that statement, the NFL "views prediction markets as gambling entities, so players are not allowed to be an endorser or brand ambassador for a company like Kalshi or Polymarket under the gambling policy."
The NFL is alone on an island in this stance
The NFL is choosing to keep prediction market sites at arm's length. There are no endorsement deals involving the league or any prediction market site. The sites are not given permission to advertise during NFL broadcasts. There is also a prohibition on signage for any of the companies inside NFL stadiums.
Meanwhile, the NBA, MLB, and NHL have all done marketing and promotion deals with Kalshi, Polymarket, or, in some cases, with both prediction market sites. Cross town from Barkley, NBA star LeBron James of the Philadelphia 76ers is getting $15 million for serving as an endorser for Polymarket.
The NBA agreed to deals with Polymarket and Kalshi to make them the official prediction market sites of the NBA. In return, the NBA was able to limit the types of markets that are being offered on its games by the sites. As well, the sites are required to share information with the NBA.
The league feels these regulations will help to monitor the sites to easily identify potential insider trading. These measures will also help protect the integrity of the NBA.
The NFL is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling
Last month, the NFL filed an amicus brief. It was in support of New Jersey's request for a Supreme Court review on whether prediction markets' sports-event contracts are gambling.
NFL officials indicate that they are seeking clarity on this issue from the nation's highest court. The league's approach toward prediction market sites could change based on the court's ruling.