Google has updated its Chrome Web Store policies to explicitly ban extensions that facilitate real-money transactions on predictive outcomes, with enforcement beginning Aug. 1, 2026. The move targets any browser extension enabling users to place financial bets on future events, a category that includes platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket.
The policy update arrives as Kalshi suffers a legal setback in New York. Judge Analisa Torres denied the prediction market operator's request for a preliminary injunction against the state, allowing New York's lawsuit to move forward. The court ruled that state gambling laws apply to Kalshi's sports-related event contracts. New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared: "Gamble with our laws and you're going to lose. Just ask Kalshi."
New York Escalates Legal Battle Against Prediction Markets
The state's attorney general has accused Kalshi of bypassing gambling regulations, a claim that now proceeds to litigation. New York has also filed lawsuits against Coinbase and Gemini over their prediction market offerings, labeling them unlicensed gambling operations. Separately, Spotify earlier clashed with Kalshi after discovering its branding was used in unauthorized prediction markets tied to streaming numbers; Kalshi later settled a market linked to manipulated streams.
Google did not cite any specific enforcement case but explicitly added prediction market extensions to its prohibited list. Developers have until the Aug. 1 deadline to comply; non-compliant extensions risk removal from the Chrome Web Store. The tight window leaves less than one month for developers to adjust, amplifying regulatory pressure on the sector.