InPlay Seeks to Pioneer a New Type of Betting Market

InPlay Global Inc. has taken a decisive step toward launching what it describes as the world’s first regulated marketplace for “Performance Securities,” onboarding seasoned industry veteran Troy Kane as president and COO. This move aligns with the company’s ambitions to launch a new category of tradable assets linked to the real-time performance of professional and collegiate sports teams.

Leading Talent Will Bolster the Company’s Vision

Kane, who previously worked with Miami International Holdings (MIAX), possesses over twenty years of knowledge in areas such as derivatives, market structure, and exchange operations. He served as the driving force behind the conversion of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) into a contemporary futures marketplace. He will report directly to InPlay founder and CEO Edwin Johnson and will be based in Chicago.

The appointment marks a significant milestone in InPlay’s ambitions to merge the rigor of financial markets with the energy of live sports. InPlay Markets, the company’s upcoming platform, is pending approval by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). It will allow investors to buy and sell securities whose prices fluctuate according to team performance across a season.

Performance Securities are positioned as authorized financial products, unlike betting or fantasy games. They do not depend on fixed odds or binary outcomes but track measurable team outcomes and public sentiment. According to the company, these securities do not represent equity ownership in any team and are unaffiliated with leagues, universities, or governing bodies. 

A New Way to Engage with Sports

CEO Johnson noted that the company’s vision was of a transparent, regulated environment where competitive performance can be priced, traded, and risk-managed like any other market. Kane echoed that vision, emphasizing that the initiative brings institutional market discipline to an entirely new class of assets.

This is not betting, and it isn’t a synthetic stock game. It’s a regulated financial marketplace designed around transparent price formation, neutral market operations, and unified liquidity.

Troy Kane, InPlay Global president and COO

The company’s platform, which is still under review by regulators, is designed to operate within the established US securities framework. It will link with participating broker-dealers and use a central limit order book to ensure consistent and transparent pricing. If InPlay Markets gets the green light, it would be the first regulated trading venue of its kind in sports, data, and finance.

According to industry experts, InPlay’s innovative model could reshape how fans, traders, and institutions interact with sports. Headquartered in Miami with offices in Chicago, New York, and London, InPlay Global continues to develop its leadership team and infrastructure as it moves closer to an official launch. It remains to be seen whether the company can transform its bold idea into a functioning market.