NHL Partners With CFTC on Prediction Market Integrity Agreement - Blockonomi

by · Blockonomi

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  • A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the CFTC and the National Hockey League establishes oversight protocols for prediction market wagering on professional hockey matches.
  • This arrangement mirrors a comparable agreement with Major League Baseball that was finalized in March 2026.
  • Both Kalshi and Polymarket were designated as the NHL’s authorized prediction market partners in the previous year.
  • Since December 2025, CFTC Chair Michael Selig has served as the commission’s sole member, though the regulatory body typically operates with five commissioners.
  • Legal challenges have been initiated by the CFTC against multiple states, including Ohio, New York, Illinois, and Connecticut, to establish exclusive regulatory jurisdiction over prediction markets.

The nation’s commodities watchdog and professional ice hockey’s premier league have reached an accord to exchange intelligence aimed at safeguarding prediction market integrity for NHL-related events.

On Thursday, May 21, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission revealed the memorandum of understanding. According to CFTC Chair Michael Selig, this arrangement aims to shield participants from “insider trading, fraud, and other abuses.”

The National Hockey League had previously established official collaborations with [[LINK_START_0]]Kalshi[[LINK_END_0]] and [[LINK_START_1]]Polymarket[[LINK_END_1]] during the prior year, designating both as the league’s authorized prediction market venues. By Thursday, event contracts for the Stanley Cup playoffs, which commenced in April, were available on both platforms.

Expanding Network of Professional Sports Partnerships

This NHL arrangement represents the CFTC’s second such collaboration with a prominent sports organization. During March 2026, the regulatory agency executed a parallel MOU with Major League Baseball, coinciding with MLB’s announcement of Polymarket as its Official Prediction Market Exchange.

Last week, Selig indicated the CFTC is working toward establishing comparable partnerships with every major professional sports league.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed support for the partnership, noting that integrity remains “fundamental to the trust our fans and partners place in our game.” He emphasized that the MOU reinforces the league’s current monitoring infrastructure.

Under the terms of this arrangement, both entities will exchange information concerning professional hockey integrity and associated event contracts “upon request.”

Federal Agency Asserts Exclusive Oversight Powers

Under Selig’s leadership, the CFTC has maintained an assertive position regarding its exclusive federal authority over prediction market regulation. The commission has initiated legal proceedings against state regulators in Ohio, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, and Minnesota.

The CFTC characterized the Minnesota situation as representing that state’s “first outright ban” of prediction market operations.

During a Senate Commerce Committee session this week, legislators expressed apprehension about possible misconduct within prediction markets. Committee Chair Ted Cruz cautioned that malicious participants, potentially including athletes, could erode fan confidence.

Despite these activities, the CFTC currently functions with a single commissioner. The commission’s leadership structure normally comprises a five-member bipartisan panel. Selig has operated as the only commissioner since December 2025.

Congressional members have called upon President Trump to appoint individuals to occupy the unfilled positions. As of Thursday, no nominations had been publicly disclosed.

Additionally on Wednesday, prediction market operator Polymarket submitted a product self-certification letter to the CFTC. This filing would authorize the platform to consolidate multiple underlying event contracts into a single offering on its system.

The NHL’s 2026-27 season is slated to commence in September 2026.

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