On June 2, 2026, Google announced an important update to its policies that will prohibit the advertising of prediction market contracts also referred to as prediction market contracts and related products in the state of Ohio.
The update represents yet another reduction by Google of its prediction market advertisement program throughout the United States. It is further evidenced by the fact that there is ongoing litigation between the regulatory body in the state of Ohio and the CFTC regulated prediction market operators.
According to Google’s Advertising Policies Help Center:
In June 2026, Google will update our Prediction markets policy in the United States to prohibit the advertisement of prediction markets contracts and related products ads in Ohio.
Google did not cite any specific reasons for the change in policy. This update amends a framework that was put in place earlier, which permitted advertisements for prediction markets throughout most of the United States with certain restrictions based upon existing State Laws.
The announcement comes as Ohio continues to increase regulation of prediction market platforms. A federal court recently ruled against Kalshi’s request for a preliminary injunction prohibiting the regulators in Ohio from taking enforcement actions against Kalshi.
In her decision, Chief Judge Sarah Morrison found that Kalshi had failed to establish that its sports event contracts came completely under the jurisdiction of the CFTC, thus, allowing Ohio’s regulatory enforcement actions to move forward.
By implementing this latest update to its corporate policy, Google has created additional obstacles for prediction market operators trying to grow in the state of Ohio. Furthermore, although the amount of regulatory scrutiny against this market, they will likely continue to increase as well.
