Senator Richard Blumenthal Calls Out Sports Leagues Over Prediction Markets

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D) is pressing major American pro sports leagues on game integrity, gambling addiction prevention, their efforts to protect athletes, and compliance with state laws in any partnerships with prediction markets. The senator sent letters to commissioners of the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and the MLS, along with the NCAA, outlining his concerns.

Blumenthal, who has introduced a bill banning prediction market trading on most sporting events, is concerned about leagues reaching deals with these platforms. MLB reached a deal with Polymarket in March and the NHL announced partnerships with the same company and with Kalshi in October. The UFC and MLS also have deals in place with prediction market firms.

Blumenthal has also been a critic of sports betting. In 2024, he and Rep. Paul Tonko (D) introduced a bill that would restrict sports betting advertising, ban bonus bets, and eliminate prop bets on college sports. The bill would also create a federal self-exclusion list, limit the use of artificial intelligence to track bettors’ habits, and put the Justice Department in charge of approving all 38 states with legal sports betting. Blumenthal said that continued advertising for both sports betting and prediction markets creates more gambling addicts. He urged leagues to end their deals with sportsbooks and prediction market firms.