Most Americans think prediction markets should be regulated as sports betting
New research indicates there is a strong sentiment among Americans that sports events contracts offered through prediction markets should be regulated in the same way as other forms of legal, state-regulated sports betting.
Prediction markets — online platforms where users wager on the outcomes of future events — are currently regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
However, an online survey, conducted by YouGov on behalf of the American Gaming Association, revealed on Wednesday that Americans overwhelmingly recognize sports events contracts as gambling, not financial instruments.
“This research has made it clear: Americans know a sports bet when they see one — and they expect prediction markets offering sports event contracts to be held to the same rules and consumer safeguards as every other state-regulated sportsbook,” American Gaming Association President and Chief Executive Bill Miller said in a statement.
“This underscores the need for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to enforce and uphold its own regulations that prohibit gaming contracts, and for Congress to use its oversight power to ensure prediction markets are not used as a backdoor for gaming.”
Other findings from the survey:
- About 80% of Americans want sports events contracts regulated like other forms of sports betting and believe these bets should be overseen by state and tribal gaming regulators, not the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
- Nearly 84% of Americans, and 69% of sports bettors, say that sports events contracts should only be available in state-licensed sportsbooks in the states where they are offered. About 69% of Americans believe each state should have a say on whether sports events contracts can be offered in their state.
- The survey revealed that 70% of Americans say prediction platforms offering sports event contracts are exploiting loopholes to act as unlicensed sportsbooks.
The online survey was conducted August 1-8, among a nationally representative sample of 2,025 registered voters. The margin of error is +/- 2% and greater among subgroups.
Dig deeper
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2025/08/20: Robinhood launches prediction markets for NFL season
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