Ohio Republicans Pitch Major Sports Betting Rollback

Late last week, a group of Ohio House Republicans announced a their intent to sharply scale back legal sports betting in the state. Their proposal, called the Save Ohio Sports Act, would end Ohio online sports betting by only allowing legal wagers at the state’s four brick-and-mortar casinos and implement other broad restrictions.

Considering Ohio bettors placed over $10 billion in wagers in 2025 alone, resulting in $209 million in tax revenue for the state, Reps. Gary Click, Riordan McClain, and Johnathan Newman won't have an easy path ahead.

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What The Act Aims To Do

While the ban on betting apps has drawn the most attention, the bill goes way beyond that. The state's racino sportsbooks and betting kiosks would also get the boot.

Additionally, the proposal would limit bettors to eight wagers within any 24-hour window, and each bet would carry a $100 max wager amount. Credit and debit card use for placing bets would be banned outright. All sports betting advertising during live broadcasts and inside professional sports venues would also be prohibited, along with the Ohio betting promos operators currently use to attract new customers.

The bill also takes aim at the types of bets lawmakers argue have fueled integrity problems. Prop bets, parlays, and in-game wagering would all be eliminated. College sports betting would be banned entirely. Sponsors pointed to a growing pattern of threats against athletes and match-fixing concerns at both the professional and collegiate levels as justification.

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Why Now?

The push comes as criticism of sports betting has grown louder in Ohio.

Gov. Mike DeWine told the Associated Press he now regrets signing the 2021 law that legalized sports betting, calling it his biggest mistake. He pointed to the reach of sportsbook advertising and a string of betting-related scandals as reasons for his shift.

One of the highest-profile cases involved Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who were indicted after prosecutors accused them of helping bettors win at least $460,000 by manipulating certain pitches. Both players have denied wrongdoing.

Does The "Save Ohio Sports Act" Have A Chance?

Ohio's betting market generates significant tax revenue and supports a growing ecosystem of licensed operators. Mobile wagering specifically accounts for over 95% of the bets that come in on a monthly basis. Rolling all that back would face fierce opposition from the industry, and even lawmakers who share concerns about problem gambling may balk at restrictions this sweeping.