Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine reignited his claim that online sports betting is detrimental to the well-being of state residents and the athletes who partake in competition.
In a conversation with Cleveland.com, DeWine discussed important key topics impacting Ohioans, including the operational tactics of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, cannabis and online sports betting. DeWine welcomed sports betting to Ohio in 2021 after signing a piece of legislation that legalized the vertical in the state. Five years later, DeWine considers his signature of the bill his “biggest regret” as governor.
DeWine is taking this tone against legalized sports betting after not realizing the impact gambling can have on young people, particularly young men. The governor voiced concerns about addiction rates and the proliferation of gambling-related ads in the media.
DeWine considers the issues to be “his fault”.
Alleged scandals impact the perception of sports betting
DeWine also pointed to the recent gambling scandals impacting both amateur and professional sports. Ohio experienced a gambling scandal firsthand with the indictments of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz for their alleged involvement in a gambling scheme tied to manipulating their own pitches for betting.
Clase and Ortiz are charged with wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy for their alleged involvement in the scheme. MLB responded to the allegations by placing the two players on paid leave last July. The league also worked with its sportsbook partners to put a $200 cap on pitch-level betting markets. Meanwhile, DeWine has urged the Ohio Casino Control Commission to remove prop bets entirely. In 2024, Ohio forced sportsbooks to ban college player props after student-athletes at the University of Dayton received gambling-related threats.
Ohio for Responsible Gambling also responded with a new campaign to protect athletes.
A familiar sentiment for DeWine
DeWine has previously voiced his opinion on Ohio’s online sports betting market.
Last November, the governor told the Associated Press that he “absolutely” believes that legalizing sports betting in the Buckeye State was the wrong move for his constituents.
“Ohio shouldn’t have done it [legalized sports betting],” DeWine said at the time.
The governor also said that he would sign a piece of legislation to repeal sports betting if lawmakers in Ohio introduced a measure to do so, but the time for a bill to hit his desk is dwindling as he has entered the last year of his term as Ohio’s governor. Until then, DeWine plans to continue pushing for more guardrails for online sports betting in the state.
