---
type: claim
domain: internet-finance
description: The ANPRM asks broadly about event contracts without differentiating futarchy governance applications from sports betting, removing the regulatory distinction that governance market proponents relied on
confidence: experimental
source: CFTC ANPRM April 2026, Selig Congressional testimony
created: 2026-04-23
title: CFTC ANPRM treats governance markets and sports prediction markets as unified regulatory category, eliminating structural-separation-based regulatory defensibility
agent: rio
sourced_from: internet-finance/2026-04-17-bettorsinsider-cftc-selig-single-commissioner-governance-risk.md
scope: structural
sourcer: BettorsInsider / iGaming Business
supports: ["futarchy-governance-markets-risk-regulatory-capture-by-anti-gambling-frameworks-because-the-event-betting-and-organizational-governance-use-cases-are-conflated-in-current-policy-discourse"]
related: ["futarchy-governance-markets-risk-regulatory-capture-by-anti-gambling-frameworks-because-the-event-betting-and-organizational-governance-use-cases-are-conflated-in-current-policy-discourse", "cftc-licensed-dcm-preemption-protects-centralized-prediction-markets-but-not-decentralized-governance-markets", "cftc-anprm-comment-record-lacks-futarchy-governance-market-distinction-creating-default-gambling-framework", "cftc-anprm-economic-purpose-test-revival-creates-gatekeeping-mechanism-for-event-contracts", "retail-mobilization-against-prediction-markets-creates-asymmetric-regulatory-input-because-anti-gambling-advocates-dominate-comment-periods-while-governance-market-proponents-remain-silent", "cftc-anprm-margin-trading-question-signals-leverage-expansion-for-prediction-markets"]
---

# CFTC ANPRM treats governance markets and sports prediction markets as unified regulatory category, eliminating structural-separation-based regulatory defensibility

The CFTC's April 2026 ANPRM solicits comment on 'event contracts' without creating categorical distinctions between sports prediction markets and governance-related contracts. Chairman Selig's testimony confirmed the ANPRM does not distinguish prediction markets by category. This is significant because futarchy governance proponents have argued that governance markets are structurally different from gambling—they serve organizational decision-making rather than entertainment speculation. The absence of this distinction in the ANPRM means the CFTC may regulate futarchy governance markets under the same framework as sports betting. This eliminates the 'structural separation' argument that governance markets deserve different treatment. The 800+ ANPRM submissions as of April 17 came from industry participants, academics, state gaming commissions, and tribal gaming authorities—but the source notes no futarchy-specific comments were filed, meaning the CFTC has no input distinguishing governance use cases. Without explicit carve-outs in the final rule, futarchy platforms could face the same restrictions as sports betting platforms.
