Saquon Barkley forced to sell Polymarket stake due to NFL rules

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has divested his equity stake in the prediction market platform Polymarket to comply with NFL regulations. Barkley confirmed to Front Office Sports that the league prohibits active players from investing in or promoting companies linked to prediction markets, which the NFL treats as gambling entities.

The NFL maintains a stricter stance on prediction markets compared to other major North American sports leagues. While the NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS have established strategic partnerships or preferred vendor status with platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, the NFL has barred prediction market advertisements from the Super Bowl and maintains official partnerships only with traditional sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics.

Barkley’s investment in Polymarket was previously disclosed as part of a startup investment portfolio. The NFL has expressed concerns regarding the potential for market manipulation involving player injuries and officiating. Additionally, the league has requested that the U.S. Supreme Court review a case to determine whether prediction markets should be regulated by individual states rather than federal commodities regulators.