Google has officially added Ohio to its list of states where advertising for prediction markets is prohibited, joining Nevada in this restriction.
Executives from prediction market platforms maintain that their services operate as federally regulated exchanges under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). However, state regulators and attorneys general are asserting their authority to impose regulations on these platforms.
On June 2, Google updated its advertising policies, specifically banning prediction market ads in Ohio. This decision was made independently by Google and was not requested by Ohio's gaming regulators.
Andromeda Morrison, the interim executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), expressed appreciation for Google’s initiative to ensure compliance with Ohio law in an email to Gambling Insider.
Google's announcement stated, “Starting June 2, 2026, we will prohibit the advertisement of prediction market contracts and related products in Ohio.”
This ban follows Google's earlier policy change in January, which allowed prediction market advertising in all states except Nevada, citing the complex nature and regulatory challenges associated with prediction market contracts.
Currently, Nevada and Ohio are the only states where such advertising is banned, despite numerous states issuing cease-and-desist orders against Kalshi, a major player in the prediction market space.
Kalshi is currently facing 18 lawsuits at both federal and state levels, defending its position that its operations are federally regulated. The CFTC has sided with Kalshi, suing seven states that have attempted to shut down its platforms.
In May, Minnesota became the first state to ban prediction markets, while the CFTC also took legal action against Rhode Island to challenge a ban on Polymarket.
Google’s advertising policy prohibits ads related to “fixed-return contracts,” “online gambling,” and online touting.
Ohio continues to fight against Kalshi in court, defending its legal sports betting industry. Governor Mike DeWine, who previously supported the legalization of sports betting in 2023, has recently expressed concerns about its social implications.
Following Google’s announcement, Ohio’s legal team responded to Kalshi’s lawsuit, challenging the notion that sports event contracts qualify as “swaps” or derivative contracts.
Ohio's attorneys argue that classifying these contracts as swaps would undermine key provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA). In April 2025, Ohio sent cease-and-desist letters to Kalshi, Robinhood, and Crypto.com, prompting Kalshi to file a lawsuit against the OCCC and the state attorney general’s office. A federal judge in Ohio denied Kalshi's request for a preliminary injunction against the cease-and-desist order.