Polymarket Sees $600K Wagered on NFL Opener Amid Regulatory Breakthrough

Polymarket, the crypto-based prediction platform, has drawn over $600,000 in wagers for the NFL season opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. The figure surpasses the £150,000 ($201,000) handled by Europe's Betfair, though it remains a fraction of the $100 million typically wagered on traditional channels.

The platform's U.S. expansion gained momentum after receiving clearance from the CFTC, allowing operation in all 50 states—including Texas, where sports betting is banned. Founder Shayne Coplan confirmed the regulatory milestone, which followed a viral marketing campaign teasing "legal football trading" nationwide.

Despite the sports betting push, Polymarket faces cyclical volatility. Dune Analytics data shows volumes plummeted from a $2 billion peak during November's election frenzy to $664 million in August, underscoring its reliance on political events for liquidity.