While we've seen the NBA and star players embrace ethically questionable prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi, the NFL seems to be taking a far different approach.
And for Saquon Barkley, that meant giving up an equity stake in Polymarket.
In an interview with Front Office Sports this week, the Eagles running back was asked about the prevalence of prediction markets in the American sports landscape. That was when he revealed his previous financial ties to the company.
Though the NFL does partner with regulated online sportsbooks, prediction markets have thus far operated outside the purview of U.S. gambling regulators (something the NFL wants the Supreme Court to review).
Barkley said:
"I am not in that right now. I'm not allowed to be in that.
I don't know how much I can go into that. ... When I got into it, it was in February. Or whenever I got into it, I forgot. And it came out I think around June or July, the NFL kind of announced that we aren't allowed to. So, I kind of had to get out of that. And that's probably the best I can speak on that."
Currently, the NFL is the lone major American sports league to resist partnering with prediction markets. And given Barkley's comments, that even extends to a player's ability to be a spokesperson and investor for the brands.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Saquon Barkley said the NFL forced him to divest from his Polymarket stake
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