Google Blocks Chrome Extensions for Prediction Markets
Chrome extensions for real-money trading are being pushed out of the Web Store, even as Google Finance keeps showing data from Kalshi and Polymarket. The move cuts off a key distribution channel just as prediction markets face mounting regulatory pressure.
Key Takeaways
- Google is banning Chrome extensions that enable real-money trades on prediction markets.
- The new Chrome Web Store rules will be enforced starting August 1, 2026, and could affect Polymarket and Kalshi extensions.
- Google is still integrating prediction market data into Google Finance, while limiting trading features through extensions.
Google has moved to block Chrome extensions that let users place real-money trades on prediction markets. The new Chrome Web Store rules take effect on August 1, 2026, creating another hurdle for companies like Polymarket and Kalshi just as the sector is posting record volume.
New Rules in Chrome
Google announced the update on July 1 in a Chrome for Developers blog post. In the revised Developer Program Policies, prediction markets are now specifically named as a prohibited product under the rules for regulated goods and services. Any extension that fails to comply could be removed after the deadline.
The changes are not limited to event trading. Developers will now only be allowed to collect data that is strictly necessary for one clearly defined purpose, and they must spell out every use of that data in plain terms. If the way that data is used changes, that also has to be disclosed separately. Google says the stricter policy is also meant to target tools that try to get around safety protections in AI services.
Clash With Its Own Products
What makes the move notable is that Google is also adding prediction market data to Google Finance at the same time. Since November 2025, the service has displayed data from Kalshi and Polymarket, even as trading access through extensions is now being shut down. In other words, Google is helping surface the market’s data while making it harder to trade through Chrome.
That matters because Chrome extensions are often a simple on-ramp for users. Websites and mobile apps will still be available, but one important distribution channel is disappearing. That could be especially relevant in Europe and the US for readers watching how major platforms are drawing firmer lines around access to crypto and event-based products.
More Pressure on Prediction Markets
The decision lands at a time when prediction markets are already drawing more attention. According to Dune data, combined monthly notional volume reached $291.38 billion (€256 billion) on June 22. At the same time, restrictions are stacking up: Argentina blocked Polymarket nationwide in March, and Google and Apple later had to remove the apps for Argentine users.
In the US, the sector is also facing a legal battle over how it should be regulated. The CFTC is defending prediction markets in court in cases tied to state-level action in Kentucky, New York, and Wisconsin. Kalshi operates in the US under CFTC registration as a Designated Contract Market, while the American Gaming Association argues that prediction markets amount to unregulated gambling. That makes the dispute not just technical, but increasingly regulatory.
The US fight over prediction markets is also unfolding on another front. Kalshi is trying to reinforce its position with a broader comeback campaign under CFTC oversight, even as legal and political pressure on the sector continues to build.
