Ohio Governor Expresses Regret Over Legalizing Sports Betting
Governor DeWine Reflects on Sports Betting Legalization
During his seven years as Ohio Governor, Mike DeWine has identified his approval of sports betting legislation as one of his most significant regrets. The bill, passed in December 2021, allowed sports gambling to become legal throughout the state, with betting operations commencing in January 2023.
Rapid Growth and Emerging Issues in Ohio’s Sports Betting Market
Following legalization, Ohio experienced a swift increase in sports betting activity. In 2023, residents wagered approximately $7.7 billion on sports, increasing to nearly $8.9 billion in 2024. Popular platforms such as FanDuel and DraftKings have been major contributors to this growth. However, this surge in popularity has also brought challenges, particularly with gambling addiction. Governor DeWine acknowledged that many young men have developed betting addictions, prompting the state to invest several million dollars in support programs for affected individuals.
The Governor’s Concerns and Reflections
In hindsight, DeWine expressed that he regrets signing the legislation that permitted sports betting, feeling accountable for the increase in problematic gambling behaviors. He admitted that at the time of signing, he underestimated the scale of advertising efforts by betting companies and did not anticipate how accessible mobile sports betting would become.
Efforts to Address Gambling Concerns
This is not the first occasion DeWine has publicly questioned the legalization of sports betting. Last autumn, following several collegiate baseball scandals, he voiced similar concerns, particularly about proposition bets and their influence on sports integrity. Discussions with Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred led DeWine to support a strategy where professional sports leagues impose nationwide limits on certain types of bets.
The MLB and betting companies agreed to restrict wagers on individual pitches and capped “microprop” bets at $200. Although a compromise, DeWine views this as a positive step and has encouraged other leagues, including the National Football League, to adopt similar restrictions.
Potential for Further Regulation
Despite these league-driven efforts, DeWine has indicated he would support state legislation to ban proposition bets outright in Ohio. Currently, state lawmakers have yet to show any intention to enact additional sports betting regulations before the governor’s term concludes early next year.
In the past year, Ohio legislators briefly explored legalizing other forms of online gambling and lottery games to help fund a state income tax reduction. However, with opposition from Governor DeWine and key lawmakers, the tax cut was ultimately financed through a combination of spending cuts and the removal of certain state taxes instead.
