Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton and Libertarian candidate Don Kissick have both expressed support for expanding online gambling in Ohio if elected in November.
However, they differ sharply on how heavily the industry should be regulated, while Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has not publicly outlined a position.
Key Takeaways
- Ohio's governor candidates outlined differing views on expanding online gambling.
- Acton and Kissick support expansion but disagree on regulation.
- Ramaswamy refrained from answering, leaving his position unclear.
In interviews with Cleveland.com, the candidates were asked four questions, including whether, as governor, they would be open to changing the state’s sports betting laws; whether they support legalizing additional forms of gambling, such as online gaming; whether new laws are needed to address problem gambling; and whether they agree with comments made by Governor Mike DeWine and House Speaker Matt Huffman that gambling has become too accessible.
Acton has expressed openness to broadening what residents can legally wager on through phones and computers. She also favors additional consumer safeguards and tighter rules specifically around sports betting.
Kissick backs a similar expansion of online gambling options but has been far less interested in pairing that growth with new restrictions. He wants to treat gambling largely as a personal choice that adults should be free to make without added government interference.
Ramaswamy offered no public stance. His campaign did not respond to questions on the subject, leaving voters with little insight into how he might approach gambling policy in office.
That silence matters because the next governor will have substantial influence over whether the state expands further by launching Ohio online casinos, poker, and lottery apps or maintains the current gambling framework.
Ohio's gambling landscape has stayed largely fixed for more than a decade, anchored by four casinos and seven racinos. Sports betting joined that mix in 2023 and quickly turned into a major revenue source, with Ohioans wagering over $10 billion on sports in 2025 alone.
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Lawmakers eye tighter sports betting rules
While the governor's race leaves the future of online gambling uncertain, state lawmakers are already moving to pull Ohio sports betting back rather than expand it. On June 29, state Reps. Johnathan Newman of Troy and Beth Lear of Galena introduced House Bill 971, the Save Ohio Sports Act.
The legislation aims to separate ordinary athletic competition from high-stakes wagering by banning manipulative betting formats, eliminating betting on college sports entirely, and restricting practices its sponsors consider predatory within the gambling industry.
The bill contains nine total provisions, five focused on consumer protection and four focused on sports integrity. Newman argued funding public education through gambling addiction moves Ohio in the wrong direction, contending that large gambling companies benefit far more than schools or the people placing bets.
As of its introduction, the bill awaited a formal committee assignment, meaning it had not yet begun moving through the standard legislative process. The proposal adds to a broader debate over whether Ohio should expand gambling or tighten restrictions as the 2026 election approaches.
