Major Athlete Unions Demand CFTC Block Prediction Market 'Under' Bets on Player Injuries

The collective bargaining representatives for professional athletes across the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and MLS are pressing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to prohibit a specific category of financial contracts they argue creates conditions for targeted harassment of players and their families. In comments submitted to the CFTC, the player unions are calling for an outright ban on prediction market contracts that allow users to wager on athlete underperformance or injury outcomes.

The unions—which include the NFLPA, NBPA, MLBPA, NHLPA, and MLSPU—submitted their comments in response to a CFTC request for public input on the regulation of prediction markets. The groups specifically cited contracts offered by platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket that enable users to place "under" bets predicting player statistical declines or injuries. The unions argue these instruments differ fundamentally from traditional sports wagering and warrant distinct regulatory treatment, framing their request as a matter of athlete safety rather than simply market oversight.

The pressure on the CFTC comes as prediction markets face broader governmental scrutiny. The regulatory agency oversees financial instruments classified as commodities, and the unions contend that certain prediction market contracts blur the line between legitimate forecasting products and sports betting. The request signals escalating tension between leagues, players, and the rapidly expanding prediction market industry. If adopted, such restrictions could reshape how these platforms operate, limit available contract categories, and set precedent for how similar instruments are regulated across adjacent markets. The unions' emphasis on protecting athletes from "abusive and harassing behavior" frames the issue as a welfare concern, potentially giving regulators political cover to impose stricter controls on a sector that has grown substantially in recent years.