On January 14, 2026, NCAA President Charlie Baker urged federal regulators to halt prediction markets in college sports until better safeguards are established. In a letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), he highlighted concerns about the potential risks to student-athletes and competition integrity, calling for measures such as age restrictions, advertising controls, and enhanced integrity oversight.
Baker acknowledged that while some prediction market operators, like Kalshi, monitor integrity issues, many lack the necessary level of scrutiny, including tracking geolocation of bettors. He emphasized that current regulations do not require prediction market operators to report integrity concerns, unlike state sportsbooks. The NCAA is open to collaborating with the CFTC to develop protections similar to those for legal sportsbooks.
Baker also voiced his concerns during a speech at the NCAA Convention, arguing that unregulated prediction markets pose a risk to college sports. He referenced Calci’s controversial plans to create a market around college athletes entering the transfer portal as an example of the need for federal oversight. While traditional sportsbooks operate in numerous states with stringent regulations, prediction markets—accessible to users as young as 18—are currently facing legal disputes over regulatory classifications. Major sports leagues hold mixed views, with the NFL expressing concerns while the NHL and UFC have partnered with prediction market firms.
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