After announcing plans to initiate a legislative effort to ban online betting in Ohio, several lawmakers have introduced a measure that aims to make sweeping changes.
On Wednesday, a group of Ohio Republican House members introduced House Bill 971, known as the “Save Ohio Sports Act.” The legislation proposes making a drastic change to Ohio’s gaming market by outlawing online sports betting in the Buckeye State.
“Monetizing addiction to fund public education is the wrong direction for Ohio,” said HB 971 co-sponsor Rep. Jonathan Newman in a statement announcing its introduction. “Who wins when predatory gambling preys on the vulnerable? It’s not our schools; that’s for sure! It’s the trillion-dollar big gambling companies who win. How is this good for Ohio?”
The bill to ban online wagering would keep one form of sports betting alive in Ohio: in-person. The measure maintains the state’s legalization of retail betting, but only at licensed casinos.
Ohio sports betting repeal bill changes
The bill to repeal online sports wagering in Ohio also proposes other changes in the state:
- Statewide ban on prop and live betting markets
- Only single-game bets, with no parlay wagers allowed
- Maximum $100 per wager
- Bettors can only place eight bets in a 24-hour period
- No college betting markets allowed for any sport or event
HB 971 also aims to mandate new advertising requirements for gaming. The bill prohibits gambling brands from displaying ads “within the venue of a collegiate sport or athletic event.” Ads are also barred from broadcasts of live sporting events.
Newman’s measure also imposes a ban on credit card funding for gambling, as some of the state’s largest operators including DraftKings and FanDuel already do.
In May, the Ohio Casino Control Commission proposed an amendment to ban credit cards for sportsbook accounts. The proposal aims to amend state code and would only allow ACH transfers, promo credits, winnings and wire transfers to be used for gaming.
A rule change must be approved by Ohio’s Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review to be implemented. Public hearings on the matter are also part of the approval process.
Ohio governor voices ‘regret’ of sports betting legalization
The Republican effort to repeal online sports betting in Ohio could receive support from Gov. Mike DeWine, who has voiced regret for signing a sports betting bill into law in 2021.
In November 2025, DeWine told the Associated Press that “Ohio shouldn’t have done it,” when referring to the state legalizing sports betting. DeWine’s regret came after federal prosecutors accused Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz of manipulating pitches to receive kickback payments from gambling.
DeWine reignited his claim in January when discussing important topics for Ohioans with Cleveland.com. His pushback against betting also includes a call to eliminate prop bets.
Next steps for bill to repeal online wagering in Ohio
The Save Ohio Sports Act was introduced Wednesday, but has yet to be assigned a House committee that will hold discussion, debate and a vote on the measure. If enacted, Ohio would be the first state to repeal online sports betting since the overturning of PASPA.
Maryland considered a bill in 2025 to repeal online sports betting. Senate Bill 1033 also maintained the operations of the state’s retail sportsbooks. Supporters of the bill noted the drop in retail sports wagering once the state allowed online sportsbooks to operate in November 2022. Maryland’s first retail sportsbooks opened their doors in December 2021.
SB 1033 was introduced but failed to progress after a first reading in the Senate.
