ReferenceGoogle Ads disapproval
Prediction Markets
Prediction market ads run only in the United States, excluding Connecticut, Michigan, Nevada, New York and Ohio, and only for certified, licensed providers. The advertiser must be a CFTC-authorized Designated Contract Market or an NFA-authorized brokerage. Binary options, online gambling and trading-signal sites are prohibited. Each location needs its own application.
At a glance
- Where it shows
- The Status column on the Ads & assets page, as Disapproved under this policy.
- What stops
- The flagged ad does not serve until the location and certificate match the rules.
- How serious
- Disapproval. Google says repeated violations can lead to account suspension.
What it means
Prediction markets are regulated event contracts, and Google allows ads for them only under a certificate, from licensed providers, in listed locations. The advertiser must hold all applicable local financial, commodity and gaming licenses, and must research the rules for each location it targets.
The location list is short. Only the United States is approved, and five states are excluded. Activity that is not a regulated prediction market falls under the prohibited list, which includes online gambling and binary options.
What actually triggers it
A location outside the United States
Only the United States is approved for these ads, so an ad that targets any other location falls outside the rule.
An excluded state
Connecticut, Michigan, Nevada, New York and Ohio are excluded, even inside the United States.
Binary options or fixed-return contracts
Digital options, digital 100, fixed-return contracts and all-or-nothing options are prohibited, and they lead to disapproval.
A trading-signal or broker review site
Informational or educational sites and blogs that give trading signals, tips or speculative trading information are prohibited, including affiliate sites with related content or broker reviews.
Fix it in this order
- Open Ads & assets from the Campaigns menu, and list the ads that show this policy.
- Confirm the provider holds the certificate for the exact location the ads target. Each location needs its own application.
- Remove any non-US target, any excluded state, any binary options wording, and any destination that gives trading signals or broker reviews.
- Hover over the ad or asset, select Edit, make the change, and select Save. Remove the ad if it cannot be made compliant.
The ad is re-reviewed automatically. The Status column or Policy Manager shows the progress.
When to appeal
Appeal when the ad targets only a certified location and the destination is compliant. Google says to appeal from the account if you believe there was an error.
An appeal cannot replace the certificate or the license. Apply for the certificate for each location first.
Often confused with
Online gambling is named as prohibited for prediction market ads unless the activity is a regulated prediction market. The gambling policy is a country-by-country regime with its own certificate.
Cryptocurrencies and related products
Crypto exchanges and prediction markets both need licensing, but the two regimes are separate. An ad can be disapproved under either policy.