NBA, PGA and NCAA urge federal government to raise sports prediction market betting age to 21

The National Basketball Association (NBA), the Professional Golfers’ Association Tour (PGA Tour), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) are calling on federal regulators to increase the minimum age for participating in sports prediction markets from 18 to 21.

In recent letters submitted to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the leagues called for tighter rules as the agency prepares to establish the first federal framework for the rapidly growing prediction market industry, NBC News reported.

Regulated online sportsbooks such as FanDuel and DraftKings operate under state laws, with most requiring users to be at least 21. However, prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are not classified as gambling operators and generally allow participation starting at age 18.

“This disparity presents a significant risk of inducing college students — and potentially even high school students — to engage in these markets in a manner detrimental to their well-being and harmful to this country’s collegiate sports endeavors as a whole,” the NCAA wrote in its letter.

The association also cited concerns about the “potentially addictive and harmful nature” of sports wagering and urged regulators to set a 21+ age requirement specifically for college sports prediction markets.

The NBA echoed concerns about risk exposure, noting that prediction market trading “carries material risks, including financial loss,” which may disproportionately affect younger participants. The league also suggested that if regulators do not impose a 21+ threshold, advertising should at a minimum be restricted to users aged 18 to 20.

The PGA Tour supported raising the age limit for all sports-related prediction markets.

The push comes amid a broader surge in sports betting in the U.S. following the 2018 Supreme Court decision that allowed states to legalize sports wagering. Since then, betting has become widespread across campuses and among younger demographics.

Prediction markets, which began gaining traction in 2024, have rapidly expanded and drawn significant participation from younger users.