RSBIX Seeks CFTC Approval for Sports Event Contracts
Jeff Ifrah, a gaming attorney with ties to former President Donald Trump, has asked the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to grant his company RSBIX the status of a Designated Contract Market (DCM).
A second attempt under a familiar name
RSBIX is not new to the CFTC. In 2020, it partnered with derivatives exchange ErisX to list NFL futures contracts, only to face stiff opposition from regulators. The proposal was pulled in 2021 before any markets could launch.
Now, Ifrah is trying again. This time, the filing is made directly under the RSBIX banner, with technical backing from Matchbook, a UK-licensed betting exchange owned by offshore gambling figure Zeljko Ranogajec’s Triplebet. Matchbook does not operate in the United States but provides experience in peer-to-peer betting markets.
RSBIX’s website states its goal clearly: to become “the most trusted sports event trading platform in the United States.” The new application emphasizes collaboration with industry stakeholders and presents RSBIX as a regulated alternative to offshore sportsbooks.
Politics in the background
Ifrah’s involvement ensures the bid carries a political dimension. His law firm has represented Trump in several high-profile cases, including litigation linked to the 2022 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago. Earlier this year, he launched NexusOne Consulting, a lobbying shop located across from the White House that aims to influence U.S. policy on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency.
The CFTC itself is mired in leadership uncertainty. Trump’s nominee for chair, Brian Quintenz, has yet to be confirmed. Quintenz previously sat on the CFTC during RSBIX’s first NFL push and argued in favor of allowing sports contracts. He now sits on the board of Kalshi, another CFTC-regulated prediction market, raising questions about conflicts of interest. Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr. has taken on advisory roles with both Kalshi and Polymarket, another platform seeking U.S. approval.
A shifting regulatory climate
What makes the current application different is the agency’s changing posture. Over the past year, the CFTC has permitted Kalshi to certify multiple event contracts without challenge and has approved a growing number of sports-related offerings. Crypto.com has also moved forward under the same framework.
That precedent gives RSBIX more confidence that this application will not face the same roadblocks as before. Still, the involvement of Matchbook, an offshore brand, and the overt political ties around the filing may invite scrutiny from both lawmakers and industry rivals.
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