CFTC staff advisories from March and July 2026 have clarified self-certification procedures under Regulation 40.2 for event contracts, including sports-related ones, by requiring detailed compliance analyses rather than template filings and recommending pre-certification engagement with leagues on integrity and oversight. This framework, paired with the agency's withdrawal of prior restrictive proposals and assertion of federal preemption over state gambling challenges, has lowered hurdles for DCMs such as Kalshi while maintaining scrutiny that could trigger stays or reviews. Competitive pressure is rising as platforms race to expand sports listings—which already drive the bulk of trading volume—before year-end deadlines, amid ongoing litigation, potential final rules on public-interest determinations, and upcoming legislative debates that could alter self-certification viability. Traders are watching for any DCM filings or CFTC interventions in the final months as key signals.