Three Ohio House Republicans introduced a package of sports betting reforms Tuesday that would eliminate online wagering in the state and impose some of the strictest betting limits in the country.
State Representatives Gary Click, Riordan McClain, and Johnathan Newman unveiled the Save Ohio Sports Act at an Ohio Statehouse press conference, joined by addiction specialists, suicide prevention advocates, and problem gambling policy experts. If passed, the legislation would require all sports bets to be placed in person at one of Ohio's four licensed casinos and ban prop bets, parlays, in-game wagering, and all college sports betting.
"This predatory business model is designed to weaponize data and create lifelong addiction," the Center for Christian Virtue,
said in its statement, adding that Americans are on pace to lose "a staggering $300,000 every minute" to gambling interests by 2030.
The legislation would cap individual wagers at $100 and limit bettors to eight bets per day. Credit card funding of betting accounts would be prohibited, as would promotional offers like "free bets" and "risk-free bets." Sports betting advertisements would be banned during live game broadcasts and inside professional sports venues.
The online betting ban is the most consequential provision. Ohio Casino Control Commission data shows the state generated $69.8 million in sportsbook revenue in February. Retail locations accounted for roughly $372,550 of that total. Eliminating online wagering would reduce state tax collections from approximately $14 million per month to around $75,000.
Prop bets - wagers on individual player statistics that don't affect the final score - would be eliminated entirely, along with parlay bets and in-game wagering, which supporters of the bill describe as the most addictive betting format available. All wagering on college sports would also be prohibited.
Ohio legalized sports betting in December 2021. It launched 1 January 2023. Gov. Mike DeWine doubled the state's betting tax from 10 to 20 percent within the first six months and has repeatedly pushed for additional restrictions, particularly after Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted in November on federal charges related to pitch-fixing.
The gambling industry is expected to oppose the bill, arguing that restrictions will push bettors to offshore markets where no consumer protections exist.Responsible gambling advocacy groups have generally favored tighter regulation over an outright ban. The CCV and the bill's sponsors are urging Ohioans to contact their state legislators directly.