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Posted on: February 20, 2026, 02:08h.
Last updated on: February 20, 2026, 02:08h.
- The National Council on Problem Gambling wants prediction markets to be 21+
- Currently, anyone aged 18 and older can trade contracts on CFTC-licensed prediction markets
- The NCPG also wants prediction markets to include the 1-800-MY-REST National Problem Gambling Helpline
Conversations about prediction markets have dominated the gaming industry since the online trading platforms began offering sports event contracts last year. The innovative industry has since gone mainstream, with major media outlets covering the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s decision to solidify the prediction markets’ ability to offer trading on the outcomes of everything from the Lakes-Kings game to what President Donald Trump might say during a press briefing.
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is raising concerns that consumer safeguards are lacking when it comes to prediction trading. Since the CFTC regulates prediction markets as a financial instrument, platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket are not subject to state gaming laws.
States with legal sports gambling require their licensed sportsbooks to include responsible gaming measures and to promote responsible play. The CFTC does not.
“The buying and selling of futures contracts via prediction markets carries substantially similar levels of risk to the consumer as traditional sports betting, including risks associated with chasing losses, impulsive behavior, financial harm, and the development or escalation of gambling-related harm,” the CFTC said in calling on prediction markets to include the 1-800-MY-REST National Problem Gambling Helpline.
“Consumers engaging with prediction markets may not recognize their activity as functionally gambling, irrespective of whether legally defined as such, and may therefore be less likely to demonstrate responsible gambling behavior or seek support for a gambling problem,” the nonprofit continued.
Too Young to Bet
The NCPG is the nation’s only national nonprofit that’s dedicated to minimizing the economic and social costs of gambling addiction. The organization, based in Washington, DC, does not support or oppose legalized gambling.
A major risk to gambling addiction when it comes to prediction markets, the NCPG says, is that the platforms are accessible to anyone aged 18 and older. In the majority of states where casinos and sports betting are allowed, the minimum age to bet is 21.
Research consistently shows that young people are at greater risk of developing gambling problems due to cognitive immaturities and a limited ability to adequately assess risk. That’s why the vast majority of states set the legal gambling age at 21 for sports betting and casino access,” Cole Wogoman, the NCPG’s director of government relations and league partnerships, told Casino.org.
“Limiting gambling to those 21 and older is a critical consumer protection measure, one that recognizes the unique vulnerabilities of youth and helps reduce the likelihood of harm before it starts,” Wogoman added.
Do Prediction Markets Offer Responsible Gaming Tools?
All regulated sportsbooks and online casinos offer players various tools to keep their play in check. From deposit and time limits to cooling-off periods, the apps and websites feature an array of safeguards.
Kalshi does feature a “responsible trading” section on its site. Users can voluntarily take a break, self-exclude from the platform, place deposit limits, and access mental health support from Birches Health.
Polymarket does not have a responsible trading program. Sportsbooks turned prediction markets, including DraftKings Predictions and FanDuel Predicts, do have responsible trading centers, but do not list the National Problem Gambling Helpline.
