CFTC and NHL Partner to Regulate Prediction Markets
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Hockey League (NHL) to enhance the oversight of prediction markets tied to professional hockey. The CFTC, under Chairman Michael Selig, announced the agreement on May 21, 2026, as part of its broader effort to assert exclusive regulatory jurisdiction over platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi. The MOU aims to safeguard the integrity of NHL games and ensure transparency in event contracts related to hockey. The agreement provides a framework for information sharing and coordination between the CFTC and the NHL, addressing risks such as insider trading and fraud. According to the announcement, this partnership seeks to protect both market participants and the sport itself. This isn‘t the CFTC’s first foray into sports-related prediction markets. In March, the agency signed a similar agreement with Major League Baseball, coinciding with MLB‘s announcement of Polymarket as its official prediction market exchange. These moves underscore the CFTC’s aggressive stance in consolidating control over the burgeoning prediction market sector. Exclusive Jurisdiction: A Contentious Claim The CFTCs assertion of exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets has sparked legal and regulatory clashes at both state and federal levels. The Commodity Exchange Act grants the CFTC authority