Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio’s gubernatorial election Tuesday night, according to CNN. The result gives online casino supporters an opening after years of opposition from Republican Gov. Mike DeWine.
- Acton paired openness to regulated online casinos with youth protections and limits on predatory advertising.
- Ohio’s next budget debate could give Acton and Republican lawmakers a venue to negotiate legalization.
- A proposal to steer online promotions toward in-person play sought to address existing casinos’ concerns.
Acton, a former Ohio Department of Health director, has said she would consider regulated online casinos with protections for young people and limits on predatory advertising. Ramaswamy had taken no public position on legalization, leaving Acton as the only major-party nominee to express openness to an expansion.
Ohio already has legal sportsbooks and land-based casinos, but lawmakers had yet to authorize online slots and table games. Acton’s victory shifts the debate toward what she could negotiate with Republican lawmakers in what remains a GOP-controlled legislature, some of whom had spent the previous session weighing both gambling expansion and tighter restrictions.
Acton tied online casino expansion to safeguards
Acton has pointed to online gambling as a potential source of revenue for public services and efforts to lower living costs. She paired that argument with calls for stronger consumer protections, including safeguards for young people and tighter rules on sports betting.
That approach marked a change from DeWine, who had opposed online casinos and said he regretted signing the law that legalized sports betting.
Her campaign comments left lawmakers to settle who could operate Ohio online casinos, how much operators would pay in taxes and what promotions they could offer. Those decisions would shape how much revenue Ohio could collect and whether existing casinos would support a bill.
The debate over sports betting showed how differently lawmakers could approach those protections.
Several Republican lawmakers introduced a proposal in 2026 to end mobile sports betting and restrict the types of wagers available at retail sportsbooks. Their push underscored the resistance Acton could face from lawmakers who saw easier access to gambling as a reason to restrict it.
Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account
Midterm Election Battleground States Odds
Senate control races and Governors’ Mansion races across America will come down to key battleground states. With statewide races heating up everywhere, many key states have plenty of interesting races.
- 2026 Midterm Election odds
- Alaska Midterm Odds
- Florida Midterm Odds
- Georgia Midterm Odds
- Iowa Midterm Odds
- Maine Midterm Odds
- Michigan Midterm Odds
- Texas Midterm Odds
Follow this space for the most recent news and market probabilities.
Republican lawmakers remained central to a deal
Ohio’s next budget debate offers a potential venue for iGaming negotiations. Acton would have to reach an agreement with Republican lawmakers on how to regulate the industry and where to direct the proceeds.
Republican Rep. Brian Stewart has already explored one way to address resistance from existing casinos. His proposal would direct some of the value of online promotions toward in-person play, giving operators a way to use digital offers to bring customers into physical properties.
That approach addressed one of the industry’s main divisions.
Online operators wanted access to a new market, while some brick-and-mortar interests worried that online slots and table games would pull customers away from their properties and put jobs at risk. Lawmakers would also have to address concerns that casino games available on phones could worsen gambling harms, an issue that could be especially close to Acton after her years in public health service.
Still, Acton’s election victory gives online casino advocates a governor willing to hear an iGaming legalization proposal. Their next test, ahead of the next presidential election, is whether they could build a bill she and Republican lawmakers would support.
