Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is regretting a decision he made four years ago. He now considers signing legislation that legalized sports gambling in Ohio the "biggest mistake" of his seven-year tenure.
Key Takeaways
- State sports betting activity surged after launch, driven by heavy advertising and mobile access.
- Gov. DeWine and college sports leaders have called for tighter restrictions on prop bets to protect integrity.
Speaking Wednesday during a meeting with the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, Gov. DeWine said he underestimated both the scale of sportsbook advertising and the social consequences of mobile betting access. He said gambling addiction has become a major issue, particularly among men under 45, with many spending money they do not have.
“People have asked me, ‘What mistakes did you make?’ And I’ll lead with signing a bill for sports gaming,” DeWine said.
Ohio sports betting was legalized in December 2021, with wagering launching statewide in January 2023. The rollout was accompanied by an aggressive marketing push from sportsbook operators.
Ohioans wagered $7.7 billion on sports in 2023, followed by nearly $8.9 billion in 2024. Gov. DeWine said that while participation rose quickly, the state has since spent several million dollars addressing problem gambling and addiction services.
The governor added that he failed to anticipate the intensity of sportsbook advertising campaigns or the impact of constant smartphone access. He noted that bettors no longer need to visit a casino or sportsbook, making wagering easier and more frequent, which he says has contributed to higher rates of addiction and financial distress.
Gov. DeWine also raised concerns about how legalized betting affects athletes and the integrity of sports.
He referenced federal investigations involving professional athletes, including two Cleveland Guardians pitchers indicted on pitch-rigging charges and subsequent gambling-related arrests involving current and former NBA players.
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Pushes for prop bet restrictions
Concerns raised by Gov. DeWine have mirrored warnings from college sports officials. Earlier this month, NCAA president Charlie Baker called on state gambling commissions to eliminate wagering on individual prop bets and other high-risk markets. Baker said the NCAA monitors more than 22,000 contests through layered integrity systems but believes state-level action is still needed to protect athletes.
The NCAA sent a letter to state gambling regulators reiterating requests first made in 2023 to amend laws and regulations. The association called for bans on individual prop bets, stronger accountability for bettors who harass student-athletes, and broader protections for athlete well-being.
The letter followed Baker’s request to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to suspend college sports prediction markets and came amid federal indictments tied to a college basketball betting investigation.
Resistance has emerged in some states. The Missouri Gaming Commission recently denied an NCAA request to ban prop betting, highlighting regulatory inconsistencies nationwide.
In Ohio, Gov. DeWine has said he would still sign legislation banning prop bets, even if professional leagues adopt their own restrictions. He said lawmakers have shown little appetite for new betting limits before he leaves office early next year.
