The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) has sent its sports betting and fantasy contest licensees and applicants a notice warning of the consequences for providing services to prediction market operators in the state.
Andromeda Morrison, the OCCC’s interim executive director, said should these companies continue to continue to support “unregulated and unlicensed gaming through prediction markets, may impact their future and ongoing suitability.”
“The notice asks all licensees and applicants to confirm their compliance with that notice no later than October 30,” Morrison told the seven-member commission on Wednesday.
The notice expressed the OCCC’s deep concern by reports that certain commission licensees continue to support or provide services to entities offering sports event contracts to residents of Ohio without a sports gaming license.
These services reportedly include, liquidity provision, and market making, integrity monitoring, and equipment, data security, and other technology-related services, according to the notice that was first reported by The Event Horizon newsletter.
“The continued facilitation or support of illegal gambling activity, or the affiliation with illegal operators, by a commission licensee raises significant suitability concerns,” the notice reads. “As you are aware, maintaining suitability is a continuing obligation of licensure.”
The notice reminded licensees that to engage in unlicensed sports betting in Ohio reflects on the licensee’ character and reputation, as well as “undermines public confidence in Ohio’s regulated sports gaming and fantasy contest markets.”
Morrison said the notice was a follow-up from the commission’s previous guidance in August 2025.
“So again, reiterating the commission’s long-held position that prediction markets that are offering sports event related contracts are doing so outside the confines of Ohio law,” Morrison said.
Morrison explained that following a favorable ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the OCCC issued cease-and-desist letter to ten prediction market companies that appear to be offering sports-event contracts in Ohio.
The federal court ruled Ohio could enforce its state gaming laws against Kalshi. The OCCC ordered Underdog, Gemini Titan, Coinbase, Prophet X, Novig, Robinhood, Polymarket, Plus500, Moomoo and Webull to cease offering sports event contracts in the state by October 16.
Morrison confirmed that they’ve engaged in productive conversations with several of the companies that received the cease-and-desist letters but did not identify which companies they were in discussions with.
“Those issues remain under investigation,” said Morrison. “I think we are all united in our belief that the commission cannot sit utterly by while watching Ohio law be violated. So, we are continuing to monitor that situation.”
During her monthly report to the commission, Morrison said they received notice Tuesday of the federal lawsuit that was filed by Polymarket in federal court in the Southern District of Ohio. She said the lawsuit does speak to preemption issues but challenges the Constitutionality of the state’s sports betting regulatory structure.
Polymarket filed the lawsuit in response to the cease-and-desist notice, saying the letter violates the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause, as well as being preempted by the federal Commodity Exchange Act.
According to the 46-page lawsuit, Ohio has declared it a felony to offer sports gaming in the state without a license issued by the OCCC, but few licenses are available to go to those with an in-state presence.
“Assuming a license were available, Polymarket U.S.’s operations would not just have to be run in Ohio … they would be limited to serving only those physically present in Ohio, cutting the company off from the rest of the United States,” the lawsuit states.
Attorneys for Polymarket argued “these discriminatory, balkanizing measures violate the Constitution’s promise of open, interstate commerce. Polymarket is requesting a preliminary and permanent injunction against the state.
“We are actively reviewing the compliant, working with the attorney general’s office,” Morrison said. “We will vigorously defend Ohio’s sports gaming laws.”
Meanwhile, Republican Governor Mike DeWine has reportedly told Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson to begin filing lawsuits against the 10 prediction market operators who have yet to come into compliance with the cease-and-desist notices.
“The law is very clear. The court decisions have been very clear,” DeWine told the Statehouse News Bureau. “The attorney general of Ohio is taking actions he needs to take. These are not self-executing.”
