NFL Forces Saquon Barkley to Sell Polymarket Stake

Overview

• Saquon Barkley confirmed he has divested his equity in Polymarket after being told by the league that active players may not hold or promote interests in prediction-market platforms.
• The NFL publicly confirmed its prohibition on investments in and promotion of sportsbooks and prediction markets but declined to comment on Barkley’s individual situation.
• An NFLPA spokesperson has said the league views prediction markets as gambling entities, and the NFL informs players each season about updated rules on endorsements and investments.
• Other major leagues have taken a different path, with the MLB, NBA, MLS, and NHL all striking commercial deals with prediction-market firms, including a reported MLB contract worth up to $300 million over four years.
• The split raises commercial and regulatory questions that could affect player deals, advertising at events like the Super Bowl, and whether prediction markets face state-by-state regulation or broader legal challenges.