Ohio Gaming Licensees Must Stop Offering Sports-Event Contracts
Jesse M. Cox Published 26/10/2026
The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) is giving licensed operators in the state until October 30 to stop offering sports-event contracts. Ohio's state gambling regulatory body is arguing that these contracts, whether offered directly or indirectly, do not comply with state licensing requirements. The state-licensed sports betting sites that have also entered into the prediction market side of the industry must either cease to offer sports-event contracts or risk losing their sports betting operator's license in the Buckeye State.
Ohio previously sent cease-and-desist orders to all of the prediction market sites that are operating and offering sports-event contracts in the state.
Ohio is seeking to eradicate sports-event contracts from the state
The OCCC confirmed at its October 21, 2026, meeting that it has issued cease-and-desist letters to sports gaming and fantasy contest licensees and applicants who are involved in the offering of sports event contracts to Ohio customers. Andromeda Morrison, interim executive director of the OCCC, signed the letters. They were dated October 20.
This is an escalation on the part of the OCCC. In August 2025, the state regulator issued a written warning on this matter. The letter stated that facilitating, supporting, or otherwise providing services to prediction market operators offering sports event contracts to Ohio residents could trigger investigations. This development has the potential to lead to license suspension or revocation.
Under Ohio law, offering sports gaming without a license is a felony. In the new letter, the OCCC has ordered licensees to cease prediction market-related activities immediately. These sites must indicate their compliance in a response to the OCCC by October 30, 2026, or risk license penalties.
The Ohio response plan isn't clear
Exactly what the OCCC plans to do if the sports betting sites offering sports-event contracts don't comply with the October 30 deadline isn't clear. The state regulator could go all-in and impose gaming license suspension on the sites. That seems a bit harsh for a first response, even though the OCCC has deemed sports-event contracts to be "illegal gambling activity."
Morrison indicated that the letter went to every licensed fantasy contest operator and sports betting operator in Ohio. Also notified were management service providers, suppliers, certified integrity monitors and testing laboratories, along with key employees and anyone applying for those licenses or certifications.
The OCCC regulates 13 online sportsbooks. Two of them, FanDuel and DraftKings, run sports prediction markets in states where they do not hold sports betting licenses.
The state gaming regulator is also willing to reopen suitability reviews of the licensee and of any owners, officers, directors or key employees tied to the operating of sports-event contracts. Any responses from the sites in question would need to be backed up by records that support their response.
The commission wrote that backing an unlicensed sports gaming operator reflects poorly on a license holder. It calls into question their character, integrity, honesty, and reputation.
Other Event Contracts are OK
Another motion put forth by the OCCC gave notice that sites offering non-sports-event contracts through prediction markets would not be facing any disciplinary action.
Earlier this month, the OCCC sent cease-and-desist orders to prediction market sites. The sites were told to shut down all sports-event contracts in the Buckeye State.
Ten prediction market sites were receiving the cease-and-desist orders. They were Coinbase, Gemini Titan, Moomoo, Novig, Polymarket, ProphetX, Plus500, Robinhood, Underdog, and Webull.