Google has expanded its restrictions on prediction market advertising in the United States, adding Ohio to the list of states where such promotions are no longer allowed. The move means Nevada and Ohio are now the only two states where Google prohibits ads for prediction market contracts and related products.
The policy update took effect on 2 June and applies to platforms that offer exchange-listed event contracts tied to sports, economics, politics, and other real-world events. Google confirmed that advertisers can no longer target Ohio users with these products through its advertising network.
The decision comes amid an ongoing legal battle over the status of prediction markets in the US. Companies such as Kalshi argue that their operations fall under federal oversight through the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). However, several state regulators and attorneys general have challenged that position, insisting that state gambling laws also apply.
Ohio has become one of the key battlegrounds in that dispute. Earlier this year, a federal judge rejected Kalshi’s request for a preliminary injunction against state regulators, allowing Ohio authorities to continue enforcing their interpretation of gambling laws while the broader legal questions remain unresolved.
Google first opened its advertising platform to federally regulated prediction market operators in January 2026 under a certification framework. Nevada was excluded from the launch due to regulatory concerns, and Ohio has now been added to the restricted list as legal pressure on the sector continues to grow.
The change could limit a key marketing channel for prediction market operators seeking to attract new users in Ohio, while highlighting the growing conflict between federal oversight claims and state-level gambling enforcement across the country.