NHL Agrees to Share Data With the CFTC for Prediction Market Integrity

In brief

• The NHL follows the MLB as the latest sports league to sign a data-sharing agreement with the CFTC.
• The MOU commits the pair to sharing information and data to protect the integrity of hockey-related event contracts.
• Prediction market integrity has been a key topic this year amid insider trading accusations across platforms.

The National Hockey League is the latest professional sports organization to align with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on prediction market integrity.  The pair said Thursday that they signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at maintaining “fair and transparent prediction markets.” “I’m proud the CFTC and NHL have officially signed an MOU, furthering the agency’s commitment to improve data sharing between professional sports leagues and the Commission,” CFTC Chairman Michael Selig said in a statement. 

“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,” he added.   Like the regulator’s March agreement with Major League Baseball, its MOU connects the pair for information sharing, particularly as it relates to hockey-related event contracts, using dedicated representatives.  “Our agreement with the CFTC enhances the comprehensive integrity monitoring systems already in place and strengthens our ability to identify, deter, and address potential risks,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. 

“This MOU reflects a shared commitment to transparency, oversight and protecting the integrity of the game,” he added. Last October, the NHL became the first major sports league to license trademarks to both Kalshi and Polymarket. Prediction market integrity has been a hot topic this year, highlighted by insider trading concerns on military action markets. Earlier this week, suspicion was cast over accounts that profited more than $2.4 million with 98% win rates in Iran War markets. That follows the arrest of a U.S. special forces member who used privileged information to profit around $400,000 on the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. In March, the CFTC—which has asserted its place as the key regulator over the burgeoning class of prediction market platforms—provided guidance on event market rules while ultimately seeking public comment on rule changes and amendments.  Meanwhile, the prediction market platforms themselves, like Kalshi and Polymarket, have implemented their own tooling to try and cut down on insider trading as scrutiny grows. Additionally, Polymarket is working with Peter Thiel’s publicly traded analytics and defense firm Palantir to create sports-focused surveillance systems designed to boost integrity in sports event markets.