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Though Ohio's Republican Governor Mike DeWine was at one time receptive to regulated online sports betting in the Buckeye State, he is less interested in allowing online casinos.
DeWine told reporters this week at the Ohio State Fair that he is “not for it” when it comes to online casino expansion.
“Basically, to put a casino in everybody’s hands, 24/7, I think is probably not a great idea,” DeWine said, per Cleveland.com. “And I think it will cause more pain and suffering …as far as gaming addiction.”
Nonetheless, he did leave an avenue open for video lottery terminals and e-bingo machines at bars, restaurants and bowling alleys.
“I will look at everything individually. I don’t know all the details about that,” DeWine said. “But I think we probably have enough gambling in the state already.”
DeWine has also begun to rethink sports betting strategies in the state.
Ohio recently banned player-specific prop bets on college athletes. This decision was made by the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) in response to concerns raised by the NCAA regarding potential harassment of student-athletes and the integrity of the games.
This ban applies to all NCAA sports. Therefore, you cannot place prop bets on individual players' performance or statistics in college football, basketball, or other NCAA sports in Ohio.
DeWine applauded that move made in February of last year.
“The Ohio Casino Control Commission took quick action to protect student athletes from unnecessary and potentially harmful threats,” said Governor DeWine. “Amending rules to focus bets on the team and away from individual athlete will improve the marketplace in Ohio and properly focus betting attention on the teams and away from individual student athletes."
At the time, DeWine spoke out against threats that began to emerge shortly after Ohio’s sports gambling laws became effective in January 2023. Threats against the University of Dayton Flyers basketball players emerged and brought focus to this conduct occurring in Ohio.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
