NHL and CFTC establish partnership to ensure integrity in hockey prediction markets

The National Hockey League (NHL) has signed an information-sharing agreement with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to help protect the integrity of prediction markets linked to professional hockey.

The agreement, signed by CFTC Chairman Michael Selig and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, establishes a framework for both parties to exchange confidential information, designate representatives for ongoing coordination, and collaborate on issues involving the integrity of professional hockey and event contracts traded on CFTC-regulated exchanges.

"This agreement is another step toward safeguarding the integrity of sports and protecting market participants in prediction markets from insider trading, fraud, and other abuses," Selig said.

The deal follows a similar agreement reached between the CFTC and Major League Baseball (MLB) in March.

Prediction markets, which allow users to trade contracts tied to the outcomes of sporting events, have drawn increasing scrutiny over concerns related to potential market manipulation, insider activity, and match-fixing.

Professional sports leagues have increasingly partnered with regulators and betting platforms to monitor suspicious activity and strengthen protections against corruption that could undermine fair competition.

The NHL has also entered partnerships with prediction market platforms Polymarket and Kalshi. Meanwhile, Polymarket has signed separate agreements with MLB, Major League Soccer (MLS), and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).