Casino Lobby Blames Prediction Markets for First Flat NFL Betting Season
The AGA forecasts a stalled $29.5B in NFL betting, blaming prediction markets as 'backdoor sports betting'.Summary
The American Gaming Association (AGA) forecasts a mere 0.3% growth in legal NFL betting for the 2026 season, totaling an estimated $29.5 billion. This would mark the first flat season since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that legalized sports betting. The AGA directly attributes this stall to prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, labeling them 'backdoor sports betting.' The trade body claims these platforms mislead consumers, evade state regulations, and have diverted over $1.3 billion in potential tax revenue since 2025. It also alleges that $5.1 billion of Kalshi's sports contract volume came from users aged 18-20, below the legal betting age in most states. However, other research firms like Eilers & Krejcik Gaming present a more optimistic view, noting prediction market volume is growing rapidly, particularly in states without legal sports betting. The regulatory conflict is escalating, with a federal appeals court allowing Nevada to enforce its laws against Kalshi, and New Jersey asking the Supreme Court to settle a legal dispute over state authority.
(Source：Bitcoin News)