Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has been compelled to sell his equity stake in prediction market platform Polymarket, adhering to strict NFL regulations that bar players from holding financial interests in gambling or prediction entities. Barkley disclosed the divestment to Front Office Sports, clarifying that while he previously held the investment, league policy now explicitly forbids such holdings. “I am not in that right now,” Barkley stated. “I am not allowed to be in that.”
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The move follows a September profile that revealed Polymarket as part of Barkley’s startup investment portfolio, but the timeline indicates the league intervened between that disclosure and the start of the current season. According to Barkley, the NFL communicates specific guidelines regarding endorsements, investments, and training to players before each campaign, emphasizing a comprehensive ban on doing business with prediction markets. This prohibition extends beyond traditional sportsbooks to include any financial interest or endorsement deal involving prediction platforms, forcing Barkley to exit the position to remain compliant.
This incident highlights the NFL’s expanding enforcement of its commercial integrity rules, which aim to prevent conflicts of interest and protect the league’s betting partnerships. While the league previously declined to comment on whether Barkley’s specific stake was targeted, sources confirm that the prohibition on promoting and investing in sportsbooks now fully encompasses prediction markets. Barkley’s compliance underscores the rigorous oversight players face regarding their personal financial activities, ensuring that no on-field participant holds a direct financial incentive tied to the outcomes of prediction-based gambling platforms.
Source: Yahoo Sports
