American college sports prediction market faces regulatory storm: platform trading volume explodes vs. tightening regulation

RumbleValidator · 2026-01-16T05:02:13+00:00

NCAA pressures the CFTC to suspend college sports prediction markets due to harassment threats posed to student athletes. Chairman Baker recommends strengthening age restrictions and advertising regulations, enhancing event monitoring and anti-harassment mechanisms. Meanwhile, despite increased regulation, trading volumes on related platforms are rising, and the future regulatory direction remains to be seen.

RumbleValidator

2026-01-16 05:02:13

Abstract generation in progress

【CoinPost】The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recently pressured the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to suspend college sports-related prediction market activities until a stricter regulatory framework is established to protect student athletes.

NCAA President Charlie Baker wrote a letter to CFTC Chairman Michael Selig on Wednesday, explicitly stating that college sports prediction markets must be halted without sufficient protective measures. What is Baker’s main concern? The rapid growth of sports prediction markets has led to a surge in harassment of student athletes by bettors, directly threatening their physical and mental health.

There is also a more troubling issue — most US states set the participation age for sports betting at 21, but prediction market platforms typically allow users as young as 18 to participate. This 3-year gap could attract a large number of college students and even high school students to jump into high-risk speculative pits.

In his letter, Baker proposed several specific recommendations: stricter age restrictions and advertising regulations, enhanced event integrity monitoring systems, introduction of anti-harassment mechanisms, and the provision of risk alerts and harm mitigation resources.

Ironically, despite increasing regulatory pressure, trading volumes on prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket have recently surged. Many legislators in Connecticut, New York, Nevada, and New Jersey have already begun taking action to ban or severely restrict sports prediction markets. How the future regulatory landscape will unfold remains to be seen.

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OfflineValidator

· 17h ago

Oh no, this regulatory loophole is really incredible. Can you compete at 18? NCAA finally can't sit still anymore. It's outrageous that student athletes are being harassed. Prediction markets are just gambling in disguise. Don't talk about innovation. Who dug this 3-year gap? It really needs to be investigated. Platforms are疯狂ly raising money, using students as ATMs. No wonder they want to ban it. 21 vs 18, just a three-year difference and you can participate in betting? Regulatory agencies must be asleep. Instead of changing the framework, it's better to shut it down directly. This kind of gray area is inherently risky. Different rules in each state, platforms just run into loopholes,套路 is old news. Student athletes have become chips, this game is truly inhumane. Played around by platforms, no wonder NCAA is getting impatient.

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ImpermanentPhilosopher

· 18h ago

Regulation is coming again... Where's the free market we were promised? Now the gap between 18 and 21 has been caught. Platforms are too ambitious, treating students as cash cows, and now it's been exposed. Harassing student athletes? That's indeed outrageous, but banning prediction markets? Feels like treating the symptoms rather than the root cause. A three-year age difference doesn't change much... Are there really that many high school students playing? NCAA is panicking, indicating trading volume has truly exploded. But banning this kind of financial innovation outright? That's pointless.

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rekt_but_not_broke

· 18h ago

Here comes another regulatory storm; anyway, in the end, they still have to harvest the leeks. Gamblers should have been caught long ago; this gap is indeed outrageous. Can you play at 18? Are you here to send kids to the gambling table? But honestly, can this wave of NCAA pressure control the platform... probably not. Sports prediction markets like this can't be banned no matter what.

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OffchainWinner

· 18h ago

This vulnerability is really incredible. You can get in at 18, and regulators haven't caught up yet. College students are losing everything. Sports prediction markets are just gambling with a different name. Harassing student athletes is truly outrageous. With such a big gap, platforms will definitely take advantage of loopholes. No one can resist the temptation of money. NCAA is getting anxious, but it seems like CFTC might not buy it. Regulation of the crypto market has never been quick. Why is there such a big difference between 21 and 18? It's truly the perfect window for harvesting profits. This gray area is the most lucrative, but the cost is a group of students losing everything and ending up broken.

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