AGA Targets Prediction Markets with Ads on ESPN
The American Gaming Association (AGA) has apparently launched a public advertising campaign targeting prediction markets. Viewers on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) reported seeing commercials on ESPN that criticized these platforms.
AGA’s Offensive Against Prediction Markets
User @camolNFT first noted the broadcast, posting, “Just saw an anti-prediction markets ad on ESPN.” Another user, @JeongHaeju, confirmed the source of the spot, adding, “Paid for by the America Gaming Association.”
These advertisements are part of a broader offensive by the casino trade group. The AGA has established an online hub to monitor activity surrounding “event contracts” and recently commissioned a poll to bolster its position.
The survey results claim that 85% of Americans view sports-related prediction contracts as gambling, and 80% believe they should face the same regulations as traditional sportsbooks.
“Regulatory Acrobatics” and the Fight for Definition
The AGA’s core argument is that prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are essentially unregulated gambling sites disguising themselves as financial exchanges.
Bill Miller, President of the AGA, has been a vocal critic. In recent op-eds, he accused these platforms of performing “regulatory acrobatics” to avoid state taxes and consumer protection laws.
“The American Gaming Association is concerned with current efforts by certain trading platforms and digital exchanges to launch national sports event contracts that appear to circumvent state regulatory frameworks,” Miller stated.
He argues that these markets lack critical safeguards, such as age verification and anti-money laundering protocols, which are mandatory for licensed sportsbooks.
The association is actively lobbying federal regulators to intervene. The AGA has urged the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to reject event contracts based on sports outcomes.
“This underscores the need for the CFTC to enforce and uphold its own regulations that prohibit gaming contracts,” Miller said. The group also filed an amicus brief supporting New Jersey’s legal efforts to block Kalshi from operating within the state.
Industry Split and League Tensions
This aggressive stance has caused a significant fracture within the gaming industry. DraftKings and FanDuel, the two largest mobile sports betting operators in the U.S., recently left the AGA.
Both companies are exploring their own entry into the prediction market space, DraftKings through a Railbird acquisition and FanDuel through a partnership with CME Group.
Their departure signals a divergence between digital-first operators seeking innovation and traditional casinos protecting the existing regulatory model.
The conflict has also spilled over into professional sports. The AGA publicly criticized the National Hockey League (NHL) for signing partnerships with both Kalshi and Polymarket.
“The NHL’s partnership with Polymarket and Kalshi sends a troubling message,” the association wrote in a statement. “By legitimizing these unregulated platforms, the NHL is undermining the integrity of the legal sports betting market.”
To prevent further erosion of the regulated market, the AGA sent letters to the commissioners of the NFL, NBA, and MLB. The correspondence urged these leagues to avoid similar commercial deals, warning against normalizing platforms operating in what the AGA considers a “legal gray area.”
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