Google to ban prediction market extensions in Chrome
Google announced that starting August 1, it will prohibit browser extensions in the Chrome Web Store that facilitate, execute, or promote participation in prediction markets. The update to its developer policies will affect tools linked to platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, which allow users to track contracts in real-time, receive alerts, or simplify the buying and selling of contracts on future outcomes. The measure, however, will not prevent access to these services through their websites or mobile applications.
In a statement, the company explained that it is expanding its policies to explicitly include prediction markets as prohibited products, and that extensions facilitating or enabling real-money transactions on future outcomes are not allowed, as generating and maintaining user trust is fundamental. Google added that the goal is for the store to remain an honest, useful, and secure platform, and that in parallel, it is establishing stricter criteria on data collection and clarifying the limits around prediction markets and artificial intelligence security.
As part of the update, extensions will only be able to collect information strictly necessary for their operation, and developers must clearly state what data they collect, for what purpose, whether they share it with third parties, and for how long they retain it, in addition to communicating any subsequent changes in these practices. Simulation products that do not award cash prizes may remain available, provided they explicitly state that users cannot win real money.
The decision comes amid increasing regulatory pressure on prediction markets in the United States, where state authorities and regulatory bodies are debating whether event-based contracts should be considered financial instruments or gambling products. The expansion of contracts linked to sports events intensified this debate, as several regulators argue that they function similarly to traditional sports betting, while their operators contend that they are regulated as financial derivatives at the federal level. While the new policy will reduce the visibility and ease of access to these platforms from Chrome, it does not alter their legal status or affect the integration of data from Kalshi and Polymarket that Google Finance incorporated in November 2025 alongside traditional financial information.
Tags: Google, Chrome Web Store, prediction markets, Kalshi, Polymarket, Predictions Chrome Web Store