CFTC and NHL Sign MOU Targeting Fraud in Hockey Prediction Markets

The MOU covers event contracts, the financial instruments that allow traders to take positions on hockey game outcomes. These contracts are traded on platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket, which the CFTC oversees as Designated Contract Markets under the Commodity Exchange Act.

“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 remarked in the press release.

The regulator added:

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman emphasized that integrity monitoring systems were already operating before this agreement. The MOU adds a formal coordination layer between the league and federal regulators, extending the protections already in place through its commercial partnerships.

“Integrity has always been and remains paramount to the NHL and fundamental to the trust our fans and partners place in our game,” Bettman stated. “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.”

In exchange, the NHL retained input over which markets are offered, with the ability to request removal of contracts deemed high-risk or inappropriate, such as those tied to individual player outcomes.

The NHL’s integrity monitoring in those partnerships relies on Sportradar data feeds and IC360 suspicious activity tracking, the same tools used for traditional sportsbook oversight. The new MOU with the CFTC builds on that foundation by adding a direct federal regulatory channel.

No manipulation incidents specific to NHL event contracts have been reported in recent times. Both the CFTC and the NHL framed the MOU as a preventive measure rather than a response to any identified wrongdoing.