Google bans prediction market ads in Michigan and New York

Google is tightening its policies on gambling advertising in the US. Starting July 2026, prediction market platforms and related product ads will no longer be allowed to be promoted via Google in the states of Michigan and New York. This decision expands an advertising ban already in effect for Ohio.

Search engines like Google play a crucial role in the visibility and success of digital offerings. Such an advertising ban can therefore have significant impacts on the affected prediction market operators.

Numbers and facts

The ban will come into effect on July 13, 2026. This follows Ohio, where a similar advertising ban has been in place since June 2, 2026. Google emphasized in its announcement that this restriction applies not only to prediction markets themselves but also to “related product ads.” Although Google did not provide a specific reason for the decision, the timing aligns with court rulings against prediction platforms in Michigan and New York.

Google’s policies are clear: Only prediction markets regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and holding Designated Contract Market (DCM) or National Futures Association (NFA) registrations are permitted to advertise in approved U.S. states. Gambling expert Cristoph Schroth from Gambling Insider reported on June 5, 2026, about the evolving landscape of prediction markets, including new tax laws in Illinois. Meta Platforms, which under Mark Zuckerberg is working on its own prediction markets, could also be affected by such developments, as a report from June 25, 2026, suggests.

Background

Prediction markets allow bets on future events, similar to sports betting or financial betting, but can cover politically or socially relevant topics. In the US, there is a differentiated legal situation. The CFTC considers some prediction markets as regular financial products. Other states view them as a form of gambling, leading to stricter restrictions. Recent legal disputes in Michigan and New York may have played a role in Google’s decision.

Currently, the US gambling markets are highly dynamic. For example, Colorado Governor Jared Polis recently signed laws to protect responsible gambling, which, among other things, prohibit push notifications from gambling providers – a nationwide unique step, as noted by Cristoph Schroth on June 5, 2026. Such measures demonstrate a growing awareness among legislators of the potential risks of online gambling.

“In July 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 Michigan and New York. Consequently, advertising of prediction markets and related products in Michigan and New York is prohibited effective July 13, 2026.”

While Google itself does not provide detailed reasons why these two states are now subject to the advertising ban, it is likely that the technology company is responding to legal frameworks and recent court rulings.

Why it matters for German players

This development in the US has no direct impact on the German online gambling market. Germany has established its own, very strict legal framework with the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). There are no real prediction markets in the American sense as a licensed form of gambling here. The Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL) is the central supervisory authority and issues licenses for online slot games, online poker, and sports betting.

Players in Germany who wish to gamble online legally should exclusively choose providers listed on the so-called GGL whitelist. Casinos with licenses from Malta (MGA) or Curaçao are illegal in Germany and offer no legal player protection. GGL-licensed providers adhere to strict rules: these include a maximum stake of 1 Euro per spin on slot machines and a monthly deposit limit of 1,000 Euros, monitored via the central self-exclusion system LUGAS. These measures serve to protect players and minimize the risk of addiction. Advertising bans by major players like Google send a clear signal to the market: they show that large tech companies take their responsibility seriously and adapt to the legal conditions of the respective countries.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For operators acting under a GGL license, this means they can continue to rely on a stable and regulated market. Google's restrictive stance on unregulated gambling products strengthens trust in licensed and controlled offerings. Players know that GGL casinos are not only legal but also subject to comprehensive supervision. This protects them from dubious practices and promotes a safe gaming environment. Advertising for online gambling in Germany is also regulated to protect minors and individuals at risk of addiction. Google's recent steps in the US underscore the global trend towards more regulation and responsibility in the gambling sector – a development that has been fully underway in Germany since GlüStV 2021.