NFL star Saquon Barkley might raise ethics and conflict of interest concerns related to an alleged gambling investment.
The Profile claimed in a report Wednesday that Barkley made an investment in the predictive-style sports gambling platform Polymarket.
Polymarket, valued at over $1 billion and which has Donald Trump Jr. as an investor, has facilitated peer-to-peer bets on Barkley’s football performances.
The gambling platform announced this week that the U.S. government gave it the green light to offer sports markets nationwide.
The report didn’t say how much Barkley had allegedly invested in Polymarket.
However, it said that his portfolio, which includes other high-valued companies, “typically” involved stakes of “between $250,000 and $500,000.”
The report also did not mention when Barkley made the alleged Polymarket investment. The platform was founded in 2020.
Does Saquon Barkley-Polymarket Deal Break NFL Rules?
The NFL recently addressed the rise of prediction markets.
According to ESPN, Sabrina Perel, NFL vice president and chief compliance officer, said in August 2025 that players and league personnel are prohibited from “engaging with prediction markets.”
“Our view is that these platforms mimic sports betting, and that they are covered as prohibited conduct under our policy,” Perel said.
An active NFL player taking equity in Polymarket could raise ethics flags.
Owning a piece of a platform listing markets on NFL outcomes creates an apparent conflict. A player could have non-public information, influence games, or appear to profit when fans trade on his performance.
It also undercuts the league’s education campaigns and responsible-gambling messaging.
Compared to state-regulated sportsbooks, prediction markets lack problem gambling oversight.
Neither Barkley, the NFL, nor Polymarket has commented publicly on the report.
The reported Barkley-Polymarket deal won’t help calm fans who think the NFL is rigged to the benefit of gambling firms.
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