Ohio would ban people from using their phones to place sports bets under new legislation being pushed by House Republicans.
Three lawmakers unveiled a plan on April 8 to restrict sports gaming three years after it became legal. Under their proposal, Ohio would require gamblers to place wagers at casinos, prohibit all betting on college sports, cap the amount and frequency of bets, and limit the ability of sportsbooks to advertise or offer financial incentives.
The bills would eliminate certain types of bets, including proposition bets that are tied to specific parts of the game rather than the final outcome. Bettors also couldn’t use a credit card to place wagers.
“I want to know the outcome is determined on the field of play, not on the gambling markets,” Rep. Riordan McClain, R-Upper Sandusky, said during a news conference.
Ohio legalized sports betting in 2023, something Gov. Mike DeWine said he now regrets. Critics say the ease of access through betting apps encourages addictive, financially risky behavior and can drive people to consider or attempt suicide.
Proponents often point to the money that states make from gaming. Ohio generated more than $1 billion in sports betting revenue last year, according to the Ohio Casino Control Commission. The state diverts most of that revenue to schools, with some reserved for a fund to combat problem gambling.
Since sports betting launched in Ohio, regulators have banned prop bets on individual college athletes who faced harassment from bettors. DeWine also worked with Major League Baseball to cap wagers on pitches after two Cleveland Guardians pitchers were charged with accepting bribes to help gamblers win.
“All these guys have given a black eye to professional sports,” said Lawrence Funderburke, who played basketball for Ohio State University and the Sacramento Kings.
These bills likely face an uphill battle with lawmakers. Some Republicans have criticized DeWine’s crusade against prop bets and pushed to legalize online casino gambling.
State government reporter Haley BeMiller can be reached at hbemiller@usatodayco.com or @haleybemiller on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio lawmakers want to ban mobile sports betting, bets on college games
Reporting by Haley BeMiller, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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