A fantasy sports app that once sued the US derivatives regulator will partner with Kalshi Inc. to offer wagers on its platform, the latest entrant into the surging prediction markets industry.
Sleeper Markets, which says it has more than 10 million users, will work with Kalshi to provide sports contracts in time for the Super Bowl, with more real-world event markets “coming soon,” the firms said Friday.
Sleeper had wanted to enter the sports prediction markets business before the start of football season but alleged it was thwarted by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Sleeper said in a lawsuit last year the CFTC and former acting Chairman Caroline Pham told the National Futures Association not to approve the firm’s application to become a futures commission merchant, which could allow it to enter the space.
Pham departed the CFTC in December after President Donald Trump’s permanent pick to head the agency, Michael Selig, took the helm.
The National Futures Association approved Sleeper’s application in early January and the company dropped its case against the CFTC days later.
The CFTC didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Securing a futures commission merchant registration can allow a company to work with other companies to enter the predictions markets business, where customers can wager on future events like the 2028 Republican presidential nominee or Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show.
