Eagles star Barkley says NFL forced Polymarket stake sale
The NFL still bars players from any stake in prediction-market firms.
The hit
Saquon Barkley says the NFL forced him to sell his equity stake in Polymarket, according to Front Office Sports. The Eagles running back said league rules bar players from holding financial interests in prediction-market firms. “I was in it before, but no bueno,” Barkley told FOS.
Why it matters
The case tests how hard the NFL will enforce its ban as rival leagues race the other way. Stars in other sports have taken deals or stakes of their own, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, who holds a stake in Kalshi. Barkley’s exit shows the NFL isn’t budging, even as its own betting partners include DraftKings & FanDuel.
The record
| NFL policy | Bars players from investing in or endorsing sportsbooks & prediction markets (NFL, confirmed Wednesday) |
|---|---|
| MLB-Polymarket deal | Exclusive partnership worth about $300m over four years, signed March |
| NBA partnership | Named Kalshi & Polymarket as preferred prediction-market partners this week |
| LeBron James deal | Polymarket deal worth $15m a year |
What happens next
Watch whether the NFL enforces the same rule against other players with prediction-market ties, & whether the Supreme Court takes up the case the NFL wants it to hear on state regulation of sports event contracts.
Sources: Eagles star Saquon Barkley says he was forced to divest Polymarket equity stake
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