Polymarket Withdraws Patrick Mahomes Return Contract Following Regulatory Inquiry

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  David PurdumAug 28, 2026, 06:51 PM ET

  • Joined ESPN in 2014
  • Journalist covering gambling industry since 2008

Multiple Authors

Polymarket US announced it has withdrawn plans to offer trading on whether Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes would participate in the team’s Week 1 regular-season game. The move came after the platform self-certified the market but subsequently pulled the filing in response to guidance from a federal regulator.

On Tuesday, Polymarket self-certified a market regarding Mahomes’ active status for the season opener. However, by the following day, the filing was withdrawn. A company source informed ESPN that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) requested that Polymarket and other prediction market operators remove contracts concerning NFL player availability. The source noted that Polymarket withdrew the filing to remain in full compliance with the CFTC and continues to engage with the agency regarding its offerings.

The regulator also consulted with at least one other prominent prediction market operator regarding trades on player availability, though the CFTC has not immediately commented on the discussions. Meanwhile, major prediction market platform Kalshi currently lists active trading for Mahomes as the starting quarterback for the Chiefs’ season opener against the Denver Broncos, as well as other markets predicting when injured players will return.

The National Football League has expressed strong opposition to player-availability markets, submitting written correspondence to the CFTC. The league objects to markets tied to player injuries or game officiating, particularly those that could be easily manipulated. NFL Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Jeff Miller stated that the league hopes the CFTC will prohibit such contracts and establish a formal review process. “We hope to get to the place where we have a very efficient system someday if they’re legalized in that same way that we can protect the integrity of the competition perfectly,” Miller remarked during the NFL owners meeting in Atlanta.

Federal regulators currently face ongoing legal challenges from prediction market operators regarding whether these platforms constitute gambling or financial instruments. In a recent ruling, a federal appeals court in San Francisco sided with Nevada and its gaming control board, rejecting Kalshi’s request to offer trading on sports and politics without obtaining a state gambling license. As the legal and regulatory landscapes evolve, the NFL remains focused on protecting the integrity of the game while navigating new financial market frontiers.

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