Write for the desk

1. Honest and labeled

Every piece is labeled Opinion, Analysis or Sponsored. We follow the SPJ Code of Ethics: "Analysis and commentary should be labeled," "Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived," and "Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines."

2. Disclose positions and conflicts

The position box sits at the top of the column: what you hold, at what price, and your exit plan, or "No position." Any payment, referral deal or other tie to a company in the piece goes in the same box. The FTC says a disclosure belongs close to the claim, and a note in a profile isn't enough. If your position changes before publishing, tell the editor and the box gets updated.

3. Banned claims

A column can't include any of these. The editor removes them, and a second instance ends the arrangement.

• Guarantees of any outcome, including "guaranteed," "sure thing" and "can't lose."
• "Lock" or "lock of the day" for any pick.
• "Risk-free" or "free money," including for promos and bonuses.
• Income claims: quitting a job, paying bills or "making a living" from trading or betting.
• Touting: selling picks, promoting paid pick services, or posting referral or promo codes.
• Chasing: any suggestion to raise stakes or trade more to win back losses.

4. A responsible gambling line on every column

Every column ends with: "21+. Only risk what you can afford to lose. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER." Writers can't remove or shorten it.

5. Graded recommendations

If a column names a buy price and a sell target, that call is logged on the public ledger before the event, locked, and graded on Kalshi's prices the same way our own plans are. A cashout counts only if Kalshi's public trade history shows the target traded. Losses stay on the record. How grading works.

6. Corrections log

Mistakes are fixed promptly with a dated note at the bottom of the column saying what changed. Every correction is also listed on the site-wide corrections log. Logged trade plans are never edited: an error makes the plan "void" with the reason shown.

7. Moderation

• First posts are pre-moderated: a contributor's first column and a reader's first comment are reviewed before they appear.
• No touting or selling picks, no referral or promo codes, no personal information, no harassment of athletes, writers or readers.
• Every column and comment has a report button. An editor reviews each report within one business day.
• If a comment includes distress words, such as chasing losses or not being able to stop, the page shows the helpline numbers to that reader rather than silently deleting the comment.
• Repeat or serious violations lead to removal and a ban.

8. No college or under-21 content

Contributors must be 21 or older. No columns on college sports markets, nothing aimed at students, and no one under 21 featured in promotional material. This follows the American Gaming Association's Responsible Marketing Code, which sportsbooks pass down to their partners.

9. Sponsored content

Sponsored pieces are labeled "Sponsored" at the top, shown in a tinted box with the sponsor's name, and kept out of the editorial feed. Sponsors never see or change editorial columns, and a sponsored piece never carries one of our trade plans.

Sources: SPJ Code of Ethics (via Journalist's Resource), FTC Endorsement Guides FAQ, CBS Sports moderation guidelines (model for our comment rules), AGA Responsible Marketing Code.