Ohio Orders 10 Prediction Market Sites to Cease and Desist
David Genge Published 08/10/2026
The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) has issued cease-and-desist letters to 10 different prediction market sites. These letters were issued to Coinbase, Gemini Titan, Moomoo, Novig, Polymarket, ProphetX, Plus500, Robinhood, Underdog, and Webull. In their letter, the commission warned that each of the operators' offerings of sports event contracts without a state licence could be engaging in illegal gambling activity. Each of the 10 prediction market sites was given until Friday, October 16 to cease offering sports-event contracts in the Buckeye State.
These letters were delivered following a recent court decision. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Ohio could enforce its state gaming laws against prediction market site Kalshi.
The OCCC letters issue a warning to prediction market sites
The OCCC didn't beat around the bush in its cease-and-desist letters to the prediction market sites. Each of the 10 letters read the same, except for the recipient's name. And each letter got right to the point.
"The Ohio Casino Control Commission has jurisdiction over all persons conducting or participating in the conduct of sports gaming in the State of Ohio," began the letter to Novig. "The Commission is hereby putting you on notice that by offering 'event contracts' on sporting events to persons located in the State of Ohio, without a sports gaming license, Novig Betting, Inc. and Ludlow Exchange, LLC ('Novig') are violating Ohio law.
"For the reasons set forth below, Novig must immediately cease and desist from offering these wagering products in Ohio."
The OCCC continued on to outline how each of the prediction market sites is violating Ohio state gaming laws.
"Based on Novig’s online content, Novig is offering “event contracts” that give persons the option to enter contracts corresponding to one of two outcomes of an event," the OCCC letter reads. "In a sporting event context, a person is entering a contract that reflects which team they believe will win or lose the matchup or that a team or player will meet certain performance statistics. The ultimate result is money being won or lost based on the outcome of a game or a team or player’s performance.
"Plainly stated, Novig is operating online sports gaming."
Each prediction market site is cited for offering illegal sports betting
The bottom line with each letter is that the OCCC is adamant on one topic. Ohio regulators will no longer permit these prediction market sites to offer sports-event contracts. The OCCC views them as illegal sports betting.
“Because these wagers lack the protections Ohio law requires, particularly for young and vulnerable people, the Commission must take action to fulfil its statutory responsibilities, protect consumers, and maintain fairness and integrity in sports gaming across Ohio,” OCCC Interim Executive Director Andromeda Morrison said in a statement.
Ohio is relying on the Sixth Circuit Court ruling for legal precedent
The OCCC is emphasizing the Sixth Circuit Court ruling. It noted that Kalshi's sports-event contracts were nothing more than illegal sports betting. Ohio regulators are brimming with confidence. They feel that they'll be successful in eradicating all sports-event contract offerings from the Buckeye State.
“The Sixth Circuit’s ruling makes clear that sports event contracts are subject to Ohio’s gambling laws," Morrison's statement read. "The Commission expects these entities to cease their illegal gambling activity in Ohio immediately.”
The OCCC was putting on notice any prediction market site choosing not to heed this warning. Failure to comply could result in administrative, civil, or criminal enforcement action.