Barkley Sells Polymarket Stake to Comply With NFL Gambling Ban

The NFL has told players they cannot hold equity in prediction market firms. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley confirmed he exited his position in Polymarket to follow this directive.

Barkley spoke with Front Office Sports about the requirement. He explained that the league outlines permitted investments before every season. Prediction markets are no longer on the approved list. "I was in it before, but no bueno," he said.

An NFL Players Association spokesperson previously clarified the policy. The league views these platforms as gambling entities. Players cannot serve as endorsers or brand ambassadors for companies like Kalshi or Polymarket under current rules.

Barkley has maintained a portfolio of startup investments. A 2025 report by The Profile indicated he invested more than $500,000 in various firms. These included Anthropic, Anduril, Ramp, Cognition, Neuralink, Strike, and Polymarket.

Other major sports leagues treat these platforms differently. The NBA, Major League Baseball, the NHL, and MLS have agreements with Kalshi, Polymarket, or both. The NFL is seeking a unified standard through the courts. Earlier this month, the league asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the regulatory status of sports-event contracts.

A league source told ESPN reporter David Purdum that the NFL wants rapid clarity from the court. The organization would accept a federal framework if it mirrors state regulatory approaches.