Prediction Markets Ads Won’t Be Shown During the Super Bowl

The Big Game was an early pioneer in the crypto space, allowing prominent sector companies to air their cheeky ads about “Fortune Favors the Brave,” nevermind the fact that one of the largest crypto exchanges went belly up after it became apparent its owner had no hard currency to back its valuation or accounts.

No, You Won’t See Prediction Market Ads This Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is not going to make the mistake of getting in too early on prediction markets either, at least for now. The league has officially confirmed that it wouldn’t show any ads featuring prediction markets, whether this is Polymarket, Kalshi, or any other one. 

In fact, the NFL has added prediction markets to its prohibited advertisers list, sending an unequivocal message, and right around the same time that the CFTC may be signalling a change in tactic. This is not surprising given the NFL’s track record.

Much like the American Gaming Association, the NFL has balked at the idea of sports event contracts and has argued that they pose a veritable risk to the game’s integrity, not least because of the many recent cases that have raised eyebrows about insider trading. 

But this doesn’t mean that prediction market platforms have not been trying to leverage their products. Fanatics Sportsbook – a mainstream bookmaker which has now also veered into the exciting if somewhat dubious space of prediction markets – has launched a new ad featuring Kendall Jenner and her “curse.”

DraftKings and FanDuel will have big games during the Super Bowl, but they will focus exclusively on their traditional betting platforms. Will the NFL’s decision to shun prediction markets harm their chances of long-term success?

This is very unlikely. While these platforms have been criticized over skirting gambling laws, operating outside of local rules, and possibly undermining the integrity of the game, people still love them.

However, recent scandals involving top-flight athletes from multiple leagues, not least the NBA and MLB, have raised questions about whether these anonymous platforms would not just end up facilitating abuse and entrenching corruption in Americas’ sprots.